Last month we reminisced about Al Bissell’s distinguished service as a career Coast Guardsman. This month, we continue his story with a little more about his personal life and Masonic career.

In the summer of 1948 at the age 18, while serving aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Arundel out of Boston, Al met Barbara J. Hunt and the two began dating. One of the activities they enjoyed most during their three year courtship was roller skating. One day in 1951, Al asked Barbara to marry him and to his delight, she agreed. Unfortunately, the two were unable to set a wedding date right away because in the fall of 1951, Al was called to duty as part of the United States’ fighting force in the Philippines during the Korean War.

While he was deployed overseas, Barbara and her family made wedding plans and during these anxious couple of years, Barbara wrote to her fiancé every day. Al returned home in January 1953 and on March 7, 1953, he and Barbara became husband and wife.

During the summer of 1956, Al asked his Father-in-law, Bro. Earl Hunt, how to become a Mason. He subsequently petitioned and was elected to membership in Palestine Lodge, A.F. & A.M. in Everett, Massachusetts. He was received as an Entered Apprentice in October, passed to the Degree of Fellowcraft in November, and raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason on December 13, 1956.

Open House. The Temple was fully decorated inside and out and the Lodge’s historic artifacts including aprons, jewels and commemoratives of all types were put out in the Lodge Room in display cases now used by the James E. Whalley Masonic Museum and Library. The City celebrated its Anniversary with an enormous parade on August 19 that came down Middle Street in front of the Lodge. Members and family sat on the front porch and on the front lawn, and DeMolay boys and Rainbow girls sat up on the porch roof. The Lodge entered the parade with a 40-foot wonderfully decorated float designed by Rt. Wor. Len Henderson who joined our Lodge later that same year. The float was built under the supervision of Wor. Cal Wilder who was assisted by members of the Lodge, several DeMolay boys and Rainbow girls, and members of Rivermouth Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star. Members of the Masonic Family rode on the float which was awarded the Grand Prize.

The Lodge was very active exemplifying degree work during 1973 with many good men joining our Lodge. Several memorable events occurred during the year as well. Most Wor. George B. Ward passed away and a hugely attended memorial service was held for him in our Lodge Room on April 24. On May 16, at Past Master’s Night, a candle was lit on the Treasurer’s desk where Most Wor. George Ward was to have sat for the evening. In a very emotional and moving ceremony at the end of the evening, the candle was extinguished. At the stated meeting on June 6, Wor. Al received, on behalf of the Lodge, the Altar Bible in memory of Most Wor. George Ward and presented by Rev. Bro. Canfield Pitney and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Choir.

On June 25, the Lodge helped celebrate the 125th Anniversary of St. Andrew’s Lodge. On September 22 at a Veterans’ Night ceremony, the Major General John Sullivan Medal was presented to Brothers Wallace Caswell, Cal Wilder and Nelson Ward. During the year, the American and English flags were placed in the East of the Lodge Room. Also, Rt. Wor. Vern Anderson, Sr. handmade a display case in which the various Masonic jewels of Most Wor. George Ward, Reginald Goldsmith and Kenneth Jenkins were placed and are still on display in the hallway leading to the Lodge Room.

While Al’s Masonic career has given him great enjoyment over the years, it is his family that has meant the most to him. He and Barbara were blessed with two sons and a daughter. Bradley lives in Alton with his wife Debbie and their children Jessica (and her husband Michael Frost), Jennifer (and her husband Andy Fuller), Bradley Jr., and Ashley. Gary lives in Nottingham with his wife Martha and their children Amanda (and her husband Steve Arneil) and Great Grandsons Cameron and Andrew. Kathy lives in Norman, Oklahoma with her husband Major Scott Paganoni, USAF (Ret), and their children Joseph and Angela. Bro. Scott is a member of our Lodge.

Wor. Al is the recipient of the Major General John Sullivan Medal and was presented his 50 year Medal in August 2006 by Most Wor. David Lamprey. His service to our Lodge and to the Order of
the Eastern Star has been nothing short of extraordinary. As you read this article, he and Barbara are enjoying themselves back at their winter home in Arizona. But as certain as the change of seasons, we look forward to their return to their residence in Rye and their home in St. John’s Lodge.