Croatian Fraternal Union Lodge 56

The Croatians miners formed mutual aid societies soon after settling. These societies alleviated the devastating effects of fire, explosions, and strikes that characteristically took place in the mining settlements. The first Croatian lodge in the state was the Dr. David Starcevich Lodge #56, which had been organized in Roslyn, Washington on October 11, 1897. This lodge began with sixteen charter members. These names were to become well-known in the mining industry. They were: Philip Tonkovich, George Golick, Gabre Golick, John Blazina, Anton Golick, Don Blazina, Valent Golick, Bob Kruzich, Steve Besek, Anton Polich, Philip Ozura, Ivan Blazina, Thomas Stupic, Ivan Yrbanc, Steve Bendzak, and Sam Bubanj.

In 1897, the lodge started a cemetery for its members and, in 1905 and 1907, they expanded, and are again expanding, thus making three large cemeteries. This lodge reached a peak of about four hundred members, and, at present, the membership stands at one hundred and forty members. Other lodges that had been formed in 1909 and 1937 have either disbanded or merged with the present lodge. In 1927, several lodges merged with the Dr. David Starcevich Lodge, which is a branch of the Croatian Fraternal Union. The lodge lost its important records, flags, and charter in the Knights of Pythias Hall fire in 1943.

Petrich, M.