A photograph taken around 1887 of the Odd Fellows building in Gratz, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. The building, which was built in 1872, was formally dedicated in June 1873, with elaborate fanfare which was reported in the Lykens Register of June 6, 1873.
The International Order of Odd Fellows, also known as the I.O.O.F., or simply “Odd Fellows,” was a racist, whites-only organization that had wide membership support in the Lykens Valley area. The building itself, which in later years was used as a furniture store, funeral home, and presently as a formal-wear sales and rental business, was the primary place for many organizations to meet. As previously stated on the Civil War Blog, September 17, 2012:
As the century ended the building could boast that it was the meeting headquarters for nearly all the lodges and organizations in and around Gratz including the G.A.R., the Patriotic Order of the Sons of America, the Knights of Pythias, the Knights of the Golden Eagle, the Gratz Cornet Band and the Gratz Grange. As these organizations declined in popularity, others took their place, including the American Legion which supplanted the G.A.R. as the major veterans group in the early 20th century. The first floor of the building was leased as a store and the basement was renovated as a social hall with kitchen facilities – often used by church and scout groups for socials. At one time there was even a flower show held here.
In the 1920s, the town library was housed here. Grammar and high school classes were temporarily held on all floors in 1926 while the regular school building was being repaired from fire damage. A shirt factory building, constructed in 1910, occupied the rear of the lot and although that part of the property was sold off from the front, the factory used the basement of the I.O.O.F. building as a pressing room.
While much research still needs to be done, it is becoming increasingly evident that the racist, whites-only requirement of the Odd Fellows and the other organizations that used the building, may have been one of the primary reason the African American population declined to zero in Gratz and surrounding areas in the late 19th and 20th centuries. Simply put, Blacks were not welcome in Gratz.
The story of the dedication notes the locations of other I. O. O. F. lodges in the Lykens Valley area and the number of men who were members of each.
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DEDICATION OF ODD FELLOWS’ HALL AT GRATZ
A Large Gathering
The second attempt of the lodge of Odd Fellows at Gratz to formally dedicate the hall constructed for them last summer, on Monday last, was a decided success. Nearing the old town before nine o’clock a.m., the dust of vehicles on the other roads leading to the place could be seen for a long distance, and when we arrived everything was in commotion, “Everybody and his wife” was seemingly there already, but still they come, and continued coming until noon, when every available spot almost was filled with people. The citizens of Dauphin, Northumberland and Schuylkill Counties were largely represented. The Gratz lodge of Odd Fellows were kept busy until a late hour receiving visiting lodges.
About 1 o’clock p.m. the dedication took place. Mr. John Moyer, acting as N. G. of Gratz Lodge, turned the hall over to the Grand Lodge officers for that purpose. They were as follows: William Thomas of this borough [Lykens], D. D. G. M., assisted by E. Wilvert of Sunbury, D. D. G. M. of Northumberland County, as Grand Herald; William B. Gray, of No. 82, Halifax, Grand Marshall; J. Q. Adams, No. 192, Berrysburg, Grand Chaplain; F. S. Bowman, No. 1`83, Millersburg, H. N.; J. J. Kents, No. 192, Berrysburg, H. S.; F. J. Douden, No. 533, Lykens, H. W.; C. B. Miller, No. 717, Washington Square, H. F.; P. M. Kembel, No. 563, Gratz, G. G.
The dedicatory exercises being over, a procession was formed, and the column proceeded to a grove about three-quarters of a mile distant, on the Klingerstown Road, where a stand was erected and seats arranged. Dr. I. S. Schminsky acted as chief marshal, and was assisted by Dr. C. E. Suender. After all were seated, prayer was offered by Prof. D. S. Boyer, of Freeburg, Snyder County. The Gratz Silver Cornet Band then played, after which John H. Sell, Esquire, of Womelsdorf, Berks County, was introduced and delivered a carefully prepared address. The speaker traced Odd Fellowship from its origin in this country down to the present, showing what a vast amount of good has been accomplished through its instrumentality, and that its field of usefulness was constantly being extended, embracing even now almost the entire civilized world. He dilated eloquently on the exalted mission and its noble teachings, speaking three-quarters of an hour. Prof. Boyer followed, favoring his old friends with a practical address containing some telling hits. The bands played, after which the procession performed and marched to town, where the parade was dismissed.
Below we give the organizations present:
- Washington Square Lodge [Elizabethville & Washington Township], No. 747, 26 men.
- Uniontown Lodge, No. 603, 30 men.
- Klingerstown Lodge, No. 637, 22 men.
- Tower Lodge, No. 655, Tower City, 24 men.
- Wiconisco Lodge, No. 533, Lykens borough, 15 men.
- Lykens Lodge, No. 192, Berrysburg, 40 men; Band, 16 men – Jonathan Bonawitz, leader.
- Valley View Band, Germanville, 16 men – P. H. Updegrave, leader.
- Ellsworth Lodge, No. 568, Sacramento, Schuylkill County, 30 men.
- Stone Valley Lodge, No. 564, Dalmatia, Northumberland County.
- Concord Encampment, No. 166, Donaldson, 20 men.
- Donaldson Lodge, No. 382, 17 men.
- Eureka Encampment, No. 137, Halifax, 23 men.
- Upper Mahantongo Lodge, No. 822, 15 men.
The size of the hall building is 28 x 54 feet, two stories high – the lower 11 feet and the upper 14 feet in the clear; front of imitation sandstone. Entrance to the hall from the front by a four-foot passage way leading to two ante-rooms in the rear; hall well furnished, windows having inside blonds, and ventilator inserted in center of ceiling. The location is eligible, and the entire cost of the building about $4,000. The dedication was first intended to take place on the 25th of October, 1872.
We are under obligations to Mr. John Moyer and his worthy lady for hospitalities extended to us during our brief visit. Their farm, just east of Gratz, shows evidence of good housekeeping and good husbandry. Everything about the place, both indoors and out, we found as neat as a new pin – and for good victuals, give us a farm house any time.
Among others whose acquaintance we made on Monday, was Em. Wilvert, Esquire, editor of the Sunbury American, who informed us that he is a native of Lykens Valley – and this being so, of course he can talk Dutch, and in that respect has the advantage of us. We were glad to meet him, and hope he may some day stray over this way [Lykens].
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News article from Lykens Register, June 6, 1873, via Newspapers.com.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.