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

weeks later tne trustees reported. BuU
the minutes are silent as to what the
the report was. But it seems to have
been satisfactory to the lodge as it at
the same meeting instructed the
trustees to make the purchase, and
authorized the officers to sign the neces-
sary documents and authenticate them
with the seal of the lodge; and further
that the trustees be authorized to
borrow money to make first payment.
On March 2Sth, 1896, the lodge be-
came the owner of the lot in question,
being 26 fit. by &C #. The price paid as
per contract was $2,250.O0. The lodge
Immediately sold to Mr., John B. John
son the rear one third, who became
responsible for one third of the pur
chase price, and all assessments and
taxes which might accrue against the
premises until such time as said
one third of lot one shall be set off for
taxation etc. by the proper authorities.
The project of building on said lot
was precipitated by misfortune which
befell the lodge on Saturday night,
April 18th, 1897, the total destruction
of its building by fire, which left us
without home, paraphernalia, regalia
or books. Mankato Lodge No. II, A.
f. and A. M. and Schiller Lodge No.
30, l. o. o. f. very promptly and kind
ly proffered the use of their hall until
other arrangements could be made.
The lodge accepted the offer OF Schiller
Lodge in whose hall it continues to
meet.
Tie project of rebuilding began to
be discussed but it was thought best to
do nothing in that line until the insur-
ance could be adjusted, which was
finally accomplished in a very satisfac-
tory manner, the lodge receiving
So, 900 upon the building, 5000 on furni-
ture, regalia, ETC. and 1885, 0S on house
in rear of the hall, all of which was
paid in full.
The first step toward rebuilding was
taken on May Sd, when building
committee was appointed consisting of
of seven members as follows: Fl. S.
Holman, w. H. Wilcox, H. Himmel-
man, Jr., f, M. Currier, A. G.. Meyer,
Nels Anderson and G. l.. Benedict
Said committee was instructed to make
all haste and report at the next meet
ing.
1t was decided to erect a three story
building to cost about $15, 100000.
The question of the kind of structure
to be erected whether the first story
should be for stores or whether it
should be all Office building with high
basement, provoked long and earnest
debate. The building committee were
in favor of an Office
building The question was finally
settled on May 31st by a majority of
more than two to one in favor of an
office building with high basement
The committee advertised for plans
for the kind of building decided upon,
and at the meeting of the lodge held
May 18th there were four sketches
offered for consideration. These were
duly examined, but none Of them de-
cided upon.
May 31st Frank Thayer was selected
architect, and proceed to draw plans
and specifications in accordance with
instructions from the lodge.
The building committee then adver-
tised for bids for the erection
of the building, and on July 18th re-
commended that the lodge award the
contract to Bro. J. B Nelson & Co. at
their bid of $14, $500, all complete ex-
cept heating plant, and that Bro. Nels
Anderson be appointed superintendent
of construction on the part of the lodge,
which recommendation was adopted,
and the contract executed accordingly.
The building is now in process of
erection.
The following are the names of the
present officers of the lodge: Chris
Danielson, N. G.; G. R. Bradley, VIC;
w. D. Tompkins. secretary; H. R.
Wiecking, treasurer; Otto Koke,
warden; Jas. l. Bennett, conductor,
John w Wilcox, R. S. N. G.; w. E.
Edwards, L. S. N. G.; G. o. Carlson, R.
S. V. G; {. L. Kennedy, L. S. V. G;
NJ. G. Hanson, R. S. S; Soren Nelson,
L. S. S; VIM. Deike, I. G; Mic
SPENCER, O. G..
Members of;the' lodge Aug 1st, 1897,
were the following:
Nels Anderson, Victor Anderson,
w H Anderson, Chas Bennett, Jas
l Bennett, Jas f Burch, Sanford
Billings, Geo E Blake, S w Burgess,
o E Bennett, VIM Buchholz, E H
Barnes, Geo w Baldwin, R G Boekler,
A w Bean, J M Beinapf, G l. Bene-
dict, Geo R Bradley, D 7 Bowen, G E
Bassuet, w L Bradshaw, G Correll, Cl
O Carlson, Peter Christensen, f NJ
Currier, A E Clark, Thos G Charles,
John Diamond, Geo w Drury, w 5
Davis, Ed L Davis, Chris Danielson, E
J Davis, Lewis Davis, VIM Deike,
Harvard n Diamond Fred r Day John