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UER Forum > Archived US: South > IOOF home for widows and orphans circa 1902 (Viewed 372 times)
dwtaylor999 


Location: Unassigned Lands, Oklahoma
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IOOF home for widows and orphans circa 1902
< on 4/7/2011 5:08 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
The IOOF, the independent Order Of Oddfellows, also known as the three links fraternity, characterized by the three chain links symbol, began in England with the first chapter in the United States in 1819 with Lodge No. 1 in Baltimore.

The history of the Odd Fellows is long and worth the read, but I'll just summarize it here. The Term "independent" was added in 1842 after a dispute with England and was used to signify the U.S. organization. The creation of the Odd Fellows name has been lost to history, with several possible versions ranging from being call "odd" because of their charitable work to being formed by trades that where not large enough for their own guild and they banned together, a collection of "odd fellows".

From 1860 to 1920 the Odd Fellows became the largest of all fraternal organizations, even larger than freemasonary, for a time, with lodges in every American state. The Great Depression brought a decline in membership as many could not afford the fees and with the New Deal and social reforms, the need for the social work of the Odd Fellows declined.

The Odd Fellows have always been a non denominational charitable organization. The command of the IOOF is to "visit the sick, relieve the distressed, bury the dead and educate the orphan." Most cities and towns across the U.S. have or had an IOOF hall, though many have been converted to other use. This is a picture of the old IOOF building in my little town dating back to about 1902, the same year the home was built.



The IOOF had a special interest in orphans and widows and created several homes around the country. Two were in Oklahoma, one in Checotah and the other in Carmen, in the western part of the state. This is how the Checotah home looked in 1908.



The home is located on the northern edge of Checotah on land previously owned by pioneer W.E. Gentry. Gentry and his wife offered the 160 acre farm and $5,000 to the IOOF in 1902 for the purpose of establishing a home for the care of orphans and aged.

A three story brick structure was dedicated on April 14, 1903 and was furnished by the local Rebekahs. The surrounding farm and the home comprised a self-sufficient setting where young people owned and cared for individual stock. Before free public schools were in existence, children here attended classes conducted within the complex. Additional rooms were added in 1922 and an infirmary was added in 1962. In its first seventy years of operation the home served a total of 325 adults and 448 orphans. Every year there was an open house, where the home was opened to the public and a photo was taken. This is a photo from an open house in the 1920's.



I have been unable to determine exactly when the IOOF stopped funding the home, but it appears they did so up until at least the late 1960's. The home has served several functions since, all related to helping the community, including a nursing home and rehabilitation center.

The home sat unused for several years beginning in 1996 and began to fall into disrepair. Currently it is occupied by an organization called The Potters House. They are working to restore the structure and convert it to a rescue shelter and transitional home and are raising their own funds through donations and a thrift shop they run in the lower section of the building. Having shown up unannounced, they where gracious enough to let me tour the old building.

The building is large, especially for the era, encompassing approximately 25,000 square feet. There are three stories above ground, and one below. The building was built in 1902 and dedicated in 1903.















The front area. The wooden beam shown is actually a large steel I-beam covered in wood.





Most of the original woodwork and railing remain.









The first and second floors where primarily rooms for the residents. These had several "modernizations" over the years, and are basically dorm rooms with community bathrooms on the floors.





The third floor is basically original, and was where the school was held, as well as administrative offices and some dorm rooms.

















The walls in the alcoves appeared to have been used for crib notes through the years, as well as the usual graffiti.







Teachers area was down this hallway.



This crawlspace extended the length of the building to the tower.



Back to the second floor, which provided access to the tower.



Pantry area.



Hallway to the tower













The upper section of the tower was only accessible by ladder through a trap door. It had been nailed shut to keep out the pigeons. My guide said they had a hard time getting it open.







The crawlspace.



Back down to the first floor and then to the basement.







The basement contained the heating system, well, laundry facilities, bathing facilities, and staff meeting rooms, among other things.







They were slowly removing the old steam heating system. The system wasn't original to the building but added in the 20's. The weight of the steel piping was starting to cause damage to the building. The guy removing it said they had pulled 25 tons of steel and still had more to go.





Some of the bathing and bathroom facilities. The shelves on the wall where where the children kept their toothbrushes and such.





Laundry chute that went up through all the floors.





Laundry and drying area.







The well. Originally a hand pump, it was later converted to an electric pump with water pipes added throughout the building.





More bath and office space. You can see how thick the walls are.









The old coal fired boiler. Someone had labled it "Pee Wee" It had been converted to gas, and then replaced with a more modern gas boiler. They plan to leave it in place, it's just to large to move.



















Some more pics of the outside and additions.















A great old building. I hope they can raise the funds to get it back in shape.





Ruins, the fate of all cities.
Price 


Location: Houston,TX
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Re: IOOF home for widows and orphans circa 1902
<Reply # 1 on 4/7/2011 5:38 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
speechless. are you a history professor by any chance?


“It still amazes me how many millions goes to discovering another star in the galaxies when, for all we know, we are still sitting on top of another undiscovered world beneath our feet.”

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Imbroglio 


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Re: IOOF home for widows and orphans circa 1902
<Reply # 2 on 4/7/2011 7:13 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
As always....well done!

http://www.noelkernsphotography.com
Captain_Slow 

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Re: IOOF home for widows and orphans circa 1902
<Reply # 3 on 4/7/2011 11:26 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Very, very cool. I wonder, are there two IOOF organizations? We have a big IOOF cemetery here in Denton, but I was always taught that IOOF stood for International Organization of Odd Fellows. Very possible it's wrong though, it's just small town wisdom :p

dwtaylor999 


Location: Unassigned Lands, Oklahoma
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Re: IOOF home for widows and orphans circa 1902
<Reply # 4 on 4/7/2011 1:00 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Thanks for the comments!

Posted by Captain_Slow
Very, very cool. I wonder, are there two IOOF organizations? We have a big IOOF cemetery here in Denton, but I was always taught that IOOF stood for International Organization of Odd Fellows. Very possible it's wrong though, it's just small town wisdom :p


I originally thought the same thing. There where two different groups which merged in 1798 to become "The Grand United Order of Oddfellows", but commonly referred to as just "Odd Fellows".

The U.S. split has always been the "Independant Order of Oddfellows". Most people think it's "International", as the IOOF has established lodges across the world.

Like the Mason's, the order has been viewed with suspicion at certain times throughout it's history, but if judged by it's actions, it has always been a benevolent society.

Post by Price
speechless. are you a history professor by any chance?


Nah, I build fixed wireless broadband networks. I've always been a history buff. It's amazing how little most people know (or care) of the history right around them. Just trying to preserve some knowledge of these forgotten places before they completely disappear.

Ruins, the fate of all cities.
UER Forum > Archived US: South > IOOF home for widows and orphans circa 1902 (Viewed 372 times)



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