Odd Fellows Continued...

I've met several people who say they remember going to movies and dances on Saturday nights at the old Odd Fellows Hall. They also remembered the Halloween parties that were held there.

Frank J. Shannon, who now lives in the Albany area, said his father, Frank P. Shannon, was the one who showed the movies in the dance hall.

In a letter to Carol Smythe, Town of Neversink Historian, Robert Hornbeck recalls how the building at 290 Main Street was "the social center of town." He writes:

Dear Carol,

Regarding your request for info about the Odd Fellows Hall, I'll relate what I know. I was a junior member of the Chestnut Valley Rod & Gun Club who purchased the property in the 1940's. Fred Akerly of Curry, also a member, held the mortgage.

This was the social center of town for a number of years. Alton Carney from Roscoe (ran the Roscoe, Livingston Manor movie theaters) brought in first run movies on Saturday nites which would be followed by dancing. No alcohol could be served but, as a youth, I was drawn to watching many adults making a lot of unsteady trips to their cars. Fun was had by all, some more than others.

The building was held by the club into the early fifties when it became too much for the club to sustain due to dwindling membership. Fred took the building back and it was sold to later become a clothing manufacturing operation. Also an auction house for a period of time.

Robert Hornbeck included a drawing in his letter that shows a floor plan of the building, then owned by the Chestnut Valley Rod & Gun Club. The rifle range was located on the second floor and the dance hall and movie house were on the first floor.

Floor plan drawing by Robert Hornbeck showing indoor rifle range, dance floor & movie house.

Although it has had several different owners since then, many locals still refer to the building as "the old Odd Fellows hall." Today, it houses a landscape architect's office upstairs, and my apartment and art studio downstairs.

The fact that I live there has prompted some local humorous types to claim that an odd fellow still occupies the building.

Odd Fellows Hall

This building used to be owned by the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) and many of the older local townspeople still refer to it as the "old Odd Fellows Hall." The IOOF held meetings in the building as well as other functions such as dances and parties, and also rented space to other organizations, including the local area grange and WCTU.

According to the IOOF website, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows began in 18th Century England for the purpose of "giving aid to those in need without recognition and pursuing projects for the benefits of all mankind." The organization, whose members are sometimes referred to as "Odd Fellows" or "Rebekahs," first appeared in North America in 1819, in the United States and Canada, and has since expanded to include 26 countries worldwide while "striving to make the world a better place in which to live, seeking To Improve and Elevate the Character of Mankind."

Source: IOOF

A familiar symbol of the IOOF is the "Three Link Emblem" which stands for Friendship, Love and Truth.

According to the IOOF, the three links "symbolize the chain that binds members together and illustrates that a fraternity is strongest when joined together. The 'F' in the first link represents 'Friendship,' the strongest bond of fraternity that teaches goodwill and harmony. The 'L' represents 'Love,' the basis for all life's ambitions, service to others and family. The 'T' represents 'Truth,' the standard by which we value people and the foundation of our society."

Photo by David Munford

Here is the "Three Link Emblem" inscribed in the concrete steps to the building entrance, a penny is embedded in the center.

It's very likely that the IOOF bought the original building and made the renovations which doubled the size of it to its present day configuration, inscribing their emblem at the entrance of the new addition. The penny is worn and the date is impossible to read, but it would probably be the same year that the renovations were completed.

To find out more about the Independent Order of Odd Fellows here is a link to their official website: http://www.ioof.org/

One of the organizations that rented space in the building from the IOOF to conduct their meetings was the local chapter of the National Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU).

The WCTU was formed in 1874 to try to stop the sale of liquor. According to their website the "WCTU hoped to obtain pledges of total abstinence from alcohol, and later also tobacco and other drugs. The white ribbon bow was selected to symbolize purity, and the WCTU's watchwords were 'Agitate - Educate - Legislate.' "

Source: Time and the Valleys Museum, Grahamsville, NY

This undated photo shows the members of the local WCTU.

I believe that this photograph was donated to the Time and the Valleys Museum by Tom Smith who recalled that the WCTU met in the building. According to Smith: "They had white uniforms...Mabel Hill was president at one time. Her doctor had prescribed a shot of whiskey for whatever ailed Mabel. She asked Hank Smith to purchase it for her without telling anyone. That way she could follow the doctor's suggestion and not compromise her position as president of the WCTU."

Source: Time and the Valleys Museum, Grahamsville, NY

Names of the members are written on the back of the photograph.

Back Row: Mrs. Kortright, Della Merrett, Mrs. Dice, Grace Sheeley, Anna Hastings

Front Row: Jennie Tillison, Ina Parter, Mable Hill, Pearl Rose

To find out more about the Woman's Christian Temperance Union here is a link to their official website: http://www.wctu.org/index.html

Another organization that rented space in the building was the local grange. A grange is a local chapter of a fraternal association of farmers known as The National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry. According to their website, the organization was formed soon after the end of the American Civil War "to unite private citizens in improving the economic and social position of the nation's farm population." Its members "provide service to agriculture and rural areas on a wide variety of issues, including economic development, education, family endeavors, and legislation designed to assure a strong and viable Rural America."

Source: Time and the Valleys Museum, Grahamsville, NY

Here's copy of the of the Treasurer's Logbook from the Grahamsville Grange. The first entry, dated January 19, 1933, reads: "For rent of I.O.O.F. Hall - $15.00."

The Chestnut Valley Rod and Gun Club purchased the building from the IOOF sometime during the 1940's.