The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1894-01-19
THE NEW ODD FELLOWS HALL

The arrangements were completed
yesterday, between the Trustees of
Stark Lodge, No. 8, y. NJ. Puffer, chair
man, and Henry w. Putnam, whereby
the Odd Fellows are to have the spen-
did quarters built for them, in the third
story of the new Opera House block.
The bargain is for term of years at a
rental that is not public, but satisfactory
to the parties in interest. The rooms
are to be furnished in splendid shape.
and the territory comprises all the floor
west of the east side of the entrance.
The Lodge room will be upon the north
side of the block, overlooking a fine
stretch of territory: the Battle Monu
ment, the Soldiers Home and the noun
tains in the distance. This hall will be
30X42 feet, the n. G.'s station on the
west end. To the rear of the V. G.'s
station will be ante-rooms, reading
rooms, kitchen, etc. The large room TO
the front, 44x54 feet, will be used for the
Canton drill room, banquet hall, and
for social purposes. The floors are to
be of hard pine The space over the en-
trance will be double suite of parlors,
in the rear of which is the entrance hail
from the stairway. This is the original
plan described in the BANNER in July,
1892, the cousummation of which
has chung fire. until now.
When these quarters are fitted up, no
Lodge in New England will have finer
or more cOmmOdious home, the area be-
ing over 5000 square feet. The plan is
to get these rooms ready for occupancy
about April 1st, in time for the dedica-
ton April 26th, 1894, the 10Th anniver-
sary of American Odd Fellowship.
Stark Lodge was organized February
l1th, 1917, and had a prosperous exist
ence up to about1S57. The hard times,
which crippled the industries of Ben
nington at that time, had disastrous
effect upon this Lodge. Its members
were scattered, and in 1862, the charter
was surrendered. In 1868, the Lodge
was revived, and has had a continued,
prosperous existence to this date. In
1SS03, the members became widely
known because of the Dramatic work of
the degrees practised. In 1888, when
the Grand Lodge met here, this work
was exemplifed before the State Body,
and they were SO well pleased, that the
work was adopted, and became the
basis of all that has followed In ornate
forms in Vermont. In 1882, Miriam Re-
bekah Lodge was organized, as auxil-
ldTy. L ne reputation anu HISTORY Ol
this lodge was published by us in our
issue of December 18th, 1898, and does
not need repetition here. The encamp-
ment was organized in 1886, and was
named after Dr. Mansur, one of the early
bearers of Odd Fellowship in
town, and for many years before his
death. rector of st. Peters church in
this village. In 1887, the cornerstone
of the Battle Monument was laid. 1t
was suggested that the uniformed civic |
societies participate, and no sooner said !
than done, the style of men that com.
pose the Odd Fellows was shown. Within |
three weeks the Canton was organized, |
over 81, 900 worth of uniforms were pro-
cured and the Canton Gnstituted August |
13th), turned out and participated in the |
parade of the 10th, with 26 men in line. |
Duplicate this record if you can in the |
annals OF society history. The Canton |
now numbers 40 members, and the |
Lodge has continually increased its