One in a collection by Allen Bachoroski,
Local Historical Writer,
Tales Along the
Highway of Legends
Note: This
is one in a series of historical stories about local families
in the Trinidad region.
Click here to find out more
about how these stories were collected.
Frank
E. Mason born in Trinidad May 2, 1925 was the third son
of Abe and Ethel. He went to school up to his junior year
of high school, then went to Albuquerque High his senior
year. In April 1943 he joined the Navy and was sent to
San Diego, CA., for boot training. Upon completion of
this training was sent to Alameda, CA., and placed in
a Combat Aircraft Service Unit-13. Then shipped out to
the South Pacific in Sept. 1943. Returning to the U.S.
in April 1945 and was sent to advance engine school in
Chicago, Il. It was here that he met his wife to be Marguerite
R. Lessard, also in the Navy, whose home town was Sommersworth,
NH.. They were married on Oct. 13, 1945, she was discharged
in Dec. 1945 and joined her husband in Hima, LA. that
month. Frank was discharged in April 1946 and they went
to Trinidad, CO.
Frank worked at the candy company until Sept., when he
started school at the Trinidad Jr. College majoring in
mechanical engineering. Their first daughter Sharron was
born Sept. of that year. In April 1947 Frank went back
in the Navy and was stationed at Buckley Field near Aurora
Co.. Their son Tom was born in Denver in Sept. 1947. Frank
went back to inactive duty in April 1948 and then moved
back to Trinidad. He again worked for the candy company
and went back to school majoring in business administration
graduating in 1951. He worked as a candy maker for a couple
of years, then to salesmen and then to management.
He
was very interested in the community. Started a Cub Pack
and served as Cub Master of the Park St. School Pack.
Served a number of years on the board of the Las Animas
County Rehabilitation Center. Was elected for two terms
to the City Council of Trinidad. Due to the sixfold increase
in the price of the main ingredient sugar in 1974 and
the recession of 1975 The Mason Candy CO. closed it's
doors, to end an era of manufacturing in Trinidad.
Their four children grown and gone, Frank and Marguerite
moved to Broomfield then to Longmont, CO.. Frank retired
after ten years with the Boulder School Dist. as a Heat
Control Teck. and an adult education instructor in refrigeration
at Vo Tech.
Marguerite passed away in Dec. 1987 while on a trip to
Calif. to spend Christmas with their daughter Bonnie.
Frank and Marguerite had four children: Sharron, Thomas,
Bonnie and Renee. Renee is the last of the Masons to still
live in Trinidad. She is married to Mike Valentine and
they have three daughters: Kelly, Kristen, and Kerrie.
As with all things as end to this Mason family in Trinidad
nearing.
Although all the Mason's through these years were stockholders
in The Mason Candy Co. at the time, few were active on
the day to day basis. The longevity depended on the community,
twenty eight stockholders outside of this family who served
on the board over the years. The hundred or so employees
that committed there energies and loyalty, and the merchants
is what made the company a success.
(Note:
if you have Photos of this family or know of anyone that
does, please have them get in touch with us so that we
might share some photos of the family here)