The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1909-11-18
Haven for the Aged and Or
phans of the Order
Now Ready.
4 MASSIVE STRUCTURE
Grounds Are to Be a Place
of Beauty for
the Contractor.

sessed by a fraternal organization In
West Virginia is that OF the Odd Eel.
lows, and It is situated near the beau
tiful mountain city of Elkins. the res.
fdent place Of United States Senator
Stephen B. Ellsins and ex-senator
Henry 9. Davis. two of West virgtnia,s
most distinguished and honored citi-
Gems
This week marks the official presen-
tation of the building to the Grand
Lodge of Odd Fellows OF West yir-
GINA in annual session in the
city of Wheeling. with ceremonies be-
fitting the occasion, and 1t is proud
date in the history of Odd Fellowship
in this state.
Agitation for state homo for their
dependent Ones soon crystalized into
action by the various Odd Fellows,
lodges in West Virginia, with the re-
suit that the contract for the elegant
state home at Elkins was awarded
April 30, 1908. and che construction
was with such dispatch that the mann
moth building was turned over COM
plete to the building committee octo-
Der 90. 1909.
Interest in this highly commendable
and unprecedented achievement in
West Virginia by single secret or
ganization is not confined to the MEM
bership of the order of Odd Fellows
but is manifest with all other secret
and fraternal societies in the state,
and all feel that that order has set an
example worthy OF emulation by other
secret organizations. Indeed, other
states hear Of this achievement with
pride and Odd Fellowship everywhere
Is praising the step taken by. the West
Virginia organization. The various
lodges throughout the state rejoice
that they have had part in building
the state home and there is already
considerable rivalry among them in
immediate steps to guarantee bril-
liant and permanent. future for the
state institution of the order, which is
to shelter and take care of the depend
tent of the order. Truly. 1t may be
said that the future is assured and
there will be an undying devotion to
this haven for the orphan and the
aged.
Beautiful Location.
The location of the Odd Fellows
state home is ideal, the grounds COM
prising 104 acres and situated on q
plateau eighty feet above the city of
Elkins. and on a line with the reser-
voir of that city. The farm" as 1t is
called is one and a half miles west of
Elkins and the Western Maryland
railroad runs through the center of 1t.
The land is rolling with meadows
along the banks of the Tygart's Valley
river. These meadows are three
fourths Of a mile in length. AT that
point the Tygart's Valley river has a
great bend and flows on two sides OF
the farm. The course of the river in
connection with the farm is in the
shape of jug with the farm forming
the neck, thus affording continuous
boat ride of seven miles from one side
OF the home to the opposite side, that
is to say, one may start in boat or
one side of the home and after row
ing seven miles without turning back
be within two hundred yards from
the starting point.
The home on the farm is situated
in natural grove of forty acres a:
pretty and picturesque as one evel
laid eyes on. The farm is being placed
under a high state of cultivation b,
the investment of $4,000 in all tile
drainage,
Size of Building.
4 The building is 1859 feet by 4s feet
with front wing As feet by Sc feet
and a rear wing AZ feet by As feet
forming what may be called MATES,
cross. 1t is all three storie!
high. 1t is surrounded BIZ +,
porch 4os feet long supported by fifty
two colonial columns. This grea
porch has five stone-step approache
anu ~ aedbiuS CStpdClty VI o,Vuu people
The building contains eighty-eigh
rooms
4 The foundation of the entire build
ing up to the water table line wa
built of the finest grade of nativ
stone. The pressed brick are of tn
bun model made by the New Licking
ton. O., Pressed Brick Company, an,
trimmed with Indiana limestone. TIL
> building is covered with tile roo
. made by the National Tile Company
of Lima, o.
There are 22o rooms in the build
|. ing. The interior finish is OF selecte
quarter-sawed and plain-sawed whit
: oak throughout There are $500
: square feet of hardwood floors fin
!; ished. and 5000 square feet of til
floors, the nine bath rooms all -havin
!. tile floors.
Y The First Floor.
The first floor of the building ma
rooms as follows:
!. Parlor and music room thrown to
Egetter by n large arched openlng.,
> Office and private Office with lee