The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1954-09-16
History Of Olive Lodge No. 259, L0.0.F. Shows
Its Growth Compares With That Of Noble County

: ember 28, 1868 a contract was
awarded to A. j, Davis and VIII
liam Ogle to erect a three story
frame building on Cumberland
street on 4 lot owned by the
OddfelloWs. This building stood
for many years and was recently
torn down to make room for
Kegerreis store.
This building was to be com
pleted in the near future and
was to cost $3.50. It was started
in the fall Of 1863. This lob seems
to have been too large for the
contractors and in October of
1869, We find where the trustees
paid $4,000 to contractors and
were instructed to inform them
that they would not receive
another cent until the building
was completed, also that security
would be held responsible if the
building was not completed ac-
cording to the terms of the con-
tract. This did not seem to
secure any results, and in Nov
ember, 1869, the Lodge decided
to enclose the West side of the
building with rough boards. On
January %, 1870, the contract
between Davis and Ogle on the
one hand and Olive Lodge on the
other, was terminated by mutual
consent. The lodge assuming
debts of Davis and Ogle which
amounted to $22, 10000 Davis
and Ogle were to turn over to
the lodge all the lumber and
building supplies on the pro-
perty. This left the lodge with
the skeleton of q building and no
money in the treasury. They
then tried to sell the building
but no one would buy it. On
February q, 1870 they moved
from the Frank Gibson build
ing to temporary quarters on
the second floor of the unfinish-
ed building.
Meanwhile debts were piling
up. The lodge borrowed $600.OO
in October, 1869, another $4,000
in June, 1870.
The new lodge room on the
third floor was ready for occupa-
tion and on July 2, 1870, it had
a public installation of officers
and dedicated the new home.
Thus we find Olive Lodge
housed in its third home on the
public square. They remained
in this building for more than
forty years.
From 1870 up until 1890 is the
darkest period of the Olive
Lodge 1t is true that they were
housed in a new building but
it was unfinished and they were
bankrupt. To add to their diff
culties they had d membership
of men who had grown old, in
the service of the order and were
paid benefits OF three dollars
per week during their sickness.
They collected only four dollars
per year for dues so that q few
months of sickness by a member
cost the Order more than they
collected during his entire
membership. During this period
those old members were almost
continually on the sick list. One
member in particular, had tuber-
culosiS and collected dues for
almost five years. 1t was this
matter of dues and benefits that
caused the downfall of most
other Oddfellow lodges in Noble
county Then too, was the fact,
that during this period Olive
Lodge was losing membership to
new lodges being instituted.
Keith Lodge was instituted
about 1870 and drew most of its
Charter members from Olive
Lodge. Dexter City was institut-
ed on August %, 1871 and Albert |
Tilton, Aaron Haines, d. D.
Webber, w. p. Warren and
James Burton, charter members
were from Olive Lodge. Har-
riettsville was instituted in 1878 |
and took at least two members, |
Charles f. Shafer and Sebastian !
Shafer. Gem Lodge No. $50 was |
instituted on July %, 1873 and |
drew all of its eleven charter |
members from Olive Lodge and |
among the loss to Sharon were |
some of the most active mem |
bers of Olive Lodge. During the |
past century there have been |
OddfelloW Lodges, in addition
to those mentioned, at Ava, |
Summerfield, Batesville and
South Olive.
South Olive consolidated with |
Olive Lodge in 1921 and Gem |
L cd IAOE Il :. i