Historical Albion Michigan
By Frank Passic

Return to the Frank Passic
Home Page  

Return to the Albion Michigan Home Page

Any photos not otherwise credited are from the personal collection of Frank Passic, Albion Historian.

ALBION ONCE HAD NUMEROUS LODGE ORGANIZATIONS

Morning Star, February 20, 2022, pg. 9

In the early 20th century, there were a multitude fraternal organizations, lodges and societies (we won’t use the word "club") that existed here in town. Many of them met in their "halls" located in the 2nd or 3rd stories above first floor downtown merchants. Each had its own name and chapter number as assigned by a national organization. Nearly all of them had a male version, then a women’s version. Some even had special drill performance teams.

These organizations peaked in numbers during the 1920s when Prohibition was in effect, then steadily declined during the Great Depression and when Prohibition ended. Following World War II, memberships declined even further and many local lodges were closed. Usually, the lady versions of these lodges lasted longer than the men versions. Some of these organizations still exist nationally however, and are active in providing insurance and other benefits to its members today.

In many of the old Albion City Directories are listed various pieces of information about our community, including a listing of the lodge organizations in town. Using the 1926 Directory as an example, I noticed that there were more lodges in Albion than there were churches. Here is the listing for Lodges as printed in the 1926 Albion City Directory: Murat Lodge No. 14, Free & Accepted Masons; Albion Chapter Royal Arch Masons No. 32; Albion Council No. 57, Royal & Select Masons; DeMolay Lodge; Albion Chapter No. 124 of the Order of Eastern Star; Freedom Hive No. 213 Ladies of the Modern Maccabees; Union Hive No. 9 Ladies of the Modern Maccabees; Albion Tent No. 180 Knights of the Maccabees.

The International Order of Odd Fellows had several listings. They were: I.O.O.F No. 60; Albion Encampment No. 63; Canton Carver No. 44; Albion Rebekah Lodge No.23, and Degree of Honor. Not far behind them were the Knights of Pythias with these listings: Albion Pythian Lodge No. 57; Apollo Company No. 23 Uniform Rank Knights of Pythias, and Superior Temple No. 87, Pythian Sisters.

Continuing, there were the Loyal Order of the Moose, Lodge No. 406; and the Albion Chapter No. 114 Women of Mooseheart Legion. The Eagles were next with the Albion Lodge No. 1265 Fraternal Order of the Eagles. The Modern Woodmen of America No. 1929 are listed, as well as the Royal Neighbors of America No. 3942. A couple of lodges had references to native-American names as listed by the Mingo Tribe No.2 Improved Order of Red Men (by the way, Don Barland is listed as the Keeper of Wampum in that organization); and the Talawanda Council No. 10 Degree of Pocahontas (Mrs. Clyde Schultz is listed as the Keeper of Wampum).

In memory of their members, lodges would produce their own memorial flag holders which were placed at the gravesites of their members. Each Memorial Day, members would put flags in these holders. Riverside Cemetery in Albion has numerous such fraternal flag holders. Unfortunately, flags have not been placed on these now-rusted holders for quite some time, because all of the members have died off and the lodges were closed years ago.

From our Historical Notebook this week we present a couple of Maccabee flag holders in Riverside Cemetery. The first is the Albion Tent 180 Knights of the Modern Maccabees; the other is the Union Hive No. 9 Ladies of the Modern Maccabees. How many of our readers had ancestors where were members of a lodge or fraternal group?


Albion Tent 180 Knights of the Modern Maccabees Flagholder


Union Hive No. 9 Ladies of the Modern Maccabees Flagholder

Next: Albion 100 Years Ago - MARCH 1922

Back to the Top of this Page

All text copyright, 2024 © all rights reserved Frank Passic

Did you enjoy this page?

If you've enjoyed learning about Albion history from this site, please write us a note in the Albion Guestbook. We hope you will take the time to share your interest and stories related to Albion history, especially if you have any ancestors from Albion, please let us know.

Learn more about Albion Michigan!
Visit the Albion home page.

Search the AlbionMich.com website

Albion History Articles

Historical Notebook  |  From the Archives  |  Subject List  |  100 Years Ago


Kept current by: Robin James

Indices Unlimited Indexing Services


And now a word from our sponsors

See prints of Albion Michigan, by Maggie LaNoue, the owner of the Albion Home Page.



AlbionDesign.com Communications Specialists Since 1981

NEW ALBION WEBSITE!
AlbionMich.net Arts, Outdoors and Education