The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-08-27

On April 10Th the prospect appeared so
hattering that building committee
was appointed consisting of Past
Grands H. P. Jensen, j. G. Ogle and
J. w. Fowler. Said committee was
clothed with full power and authority
to provide plans make contracts, and
to do all things necessary for the pros
ecution and completion of the
work
On Jan. Sd, 1887 Mankato Lodge No,
Is, 1. 90. F. met for the first time in
a beautiful and convenient home of its
own.
The first plan was for two story
building The contract for its con
struction was awarded to Bro. o, R.
Mather for $1,000. During the pro-
gress of the work, after much discus
sion, the lodge very wisely concluded
to make it three stories, The plan and
contract were modified accordingly.
The building covers the entire plat of
ground, Al #. on Jackson and "a fit. on
Second st Three stories besides base
ment. sgI2
The lower story was leased to the
FREE PRESS PRINTING Co. who oc-
cupied it until the completion of their
own building in 1895, when it was
leased to Mcconnell e Co.. who oc-
cupied it until its destruction by fire.
The second story is divided into con-
venient offices, with fuel rooms, water
closet and ALWAYS.
The third story contains the lodge
room AZ by 49, it,, connected with
banquet room 30. by IS fit. also with
ante-room and that with reception
and paraphernalia rooms. On this
floor is also kitchen and fuel room.
The undertaking of such an enter
prise, under the circumstances, might
we'll have been, considered somewhat
hazardous, as 1.-The lodge would be
compelled to contract a debt for the
whole amount. rr~
The plan adopted for raising the
necessary funds when the question of
building was first considered was for
the lodge to issue bonds to run for ten
years (or less at the option of the lodge
1t was expected that these would be
taken by the members at their face
value which was done, and bonds is
sued in sufficient amount to secure the
Enclosure of the building. After this
had been accomplished by the issue of
seventeen hundred dollars in bonds, a
loan of $4,000 was negotiated, which
was secured by mortgage on the
building and grounds.
The total cost Of the edi6Ge as report
ed by the building committee was
So, 1O39O. ia 3.
The lodge has expended in charity.....$ 1872 So
For burial of the dead. 2Sl.50
For widows and orphans. ...... .t...... 1920
Total relief. Observation-Disclosures. 3,5S5.S5
Since 1875, when the number of
weeks sick benefits began to be noted
this lodge has paid 799 weeks.
There have been 10 deaths, Is of
whom were buried by the lodge. 10
Value of funds and other property as
reported Dec. 81, 1892: EIvA
Gosh in +rooC e0
Membership in Odd Fellows home -. $500
Bank certificate. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. $3.50
Rents due. Observation-Disclosures. 24576
Furniture, paraphernalia, etc.......... 10000
Total assets. ....................S1 81, 62197
Since the above was written the
furniture and paraphernalia
have all been destroyed by fire.
The dedication of the hall was on the
6Sth anniversary of the Order. Of the
dedicatory ceremony there is unfortun-
ately no record. But it is we'll remem-
bered that the deeply lamented M. D.
L. Collister delivered on that occasion
one of the grandest and most eloquent
orations ever written upon the subject
of Odd Fellowship. !
If anything of thatkind is to have a
place in the history Of the Order in this
state, there is perhaps nothing more
worthy of that distinction than Bro.
Collister's address above referred to-
This lodge has furnished no remark
able or noted men. s4,ffree of it's mem
bers, viz, Clark DKeysor, James A.
James, and Thos. G.nCharles have been
honored with seats'fn the legislature of
the state. And two have served as
Grand Patriarchs Of Che Grand Encamp-
ment of Minnesota and one representa-
tive to Sovereign Grand Lodge.
May 22d, 1898, tree lodge adopted a
form for Memorial book and the
committee whoE had prepared
the form was Instructed to pro-
cure suitable book Which was in due
time produced. Bros.3B. D. Pay and
W., D. Tompkins We're appointed a
committee to procure biographical
sketches of our brothers who had died
since the organization of the lodge.
But for some time there was nothing
done, the chairman making no move to
carry out the instruction of the lodge.
Finally the committee was discharg-