Odd Fellows, Part I

There is an especially odd building in St. Anne's Hill.   It has tall arched windows and strong brick foundations.   It has a curious history and a prime location overlooking downtown Dayton.    Many people have noticed its stately shape; its looming presence casting long shadows across the street.  

It is known as the Oddfellows Hall.

It may surprise you to learn there are still Oddfellows in Ohio.   First let's explore some history, from the Independent Order of Odd Fellows website:

In 17th century England, it was odd to find people organized for the purpose of giving aid to those in need and of pursuing projects for the benefit of all mankind. Those who belonged to such an organization were called "Odd Fellows"... 

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows was founded on the North American Continent in Baltimore, Maryland, on April 26, 1819 when Thomas Wildey and four members of the Order from England instituted Washington Lodge No. 1.

By 1861, there were over 200,000 Oddfellows across 42 states, according to Wildey's biography.   So that leads us to wonder when they came to the Dayton area.   The "Special Collections" archives at Wright State University Library has extensive files documenting Dayton's history, including our own St. Anne's Hill Historic Society archives.   

The Oddfellows Archive at WSU establishes their presence in the Dayton area, saying "The first Independent Order of Odd Fellows in Dayton, Montgomery Lodge #5, was instituted under a charter dated April 19, 1833.  The Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Dayton Lodge # 273, was instituted April 20, 1855, and later became the I.O.O.F. Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen."  

Side Note: According to Daytonhistorybooks.com, the "Dayton Encampment" of Oddfellows wrote their Constitution in 1838, which provides some insight into their organizational structure.

Eventually, the local Oddfellows found their home in St. Anne's Hill.   Montgomery County Deed records indicate that the Oddfellows Hall in St. Anne's Hill was owned by Dayton Lodge #273 until the building was sold in 1982 - representing over 127 years of Dayton history.  Additional deed records reveal that several local lodges consolidated in 1983.


Stay tuned for Part II:  The Oddfellows Hall.

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Gray's Days

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The Dayton Daily News featured another one of our neighbors this week, and some great historic photos as well...

Photographers may recognize Dennis Gray’s family name from its connection to GraLab darkroom timers. Dennis Gray’s grandfather founded the company, DimcoGray, that still manufactures the devices in Centerville. DimcoGray, then located in the Oregon District, was passed down to John Daniel Gray, who was president until the 1980s, when he sold the firm to his employees.

Gray’s father died two years ago, and his collection nearly disappeared with him. Gray said his father didn’t recognize the value of the shots and wanted to throw them away.

When the photos passed from father to son, Dennis Gray knew where to turn for help. He was familiar with the Wright State archive from his volunteer work with the St. Anne Hill Historic District and First Lutheran Church.

His father’s collection “was a treasure waiting to be unlocked, but the technology wasn’t there until just a few years ago,” he said.

He's just one of the many "Dayton Originals" in St. Anne's Hill!
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Wright State

Just a quick note of thanks to all who attended our very special Archive event. It was a beautiful day and we had a great turnout, including a few elected officials and folks from the media.

Here's a few shots:

Special thanks to Susan for leading this effort, and to Lee for hosting the ceremony and the celebration that followed. Most of all, our sincere thanks to Dawne Dewey and all the Library staff at Wright State University for their commitment to Dayton's history and St. Anne's Hill.

Archives

Here are the details for Sunday, as quoted from the newsletter:

You are cordially invited to

a Celebration of

the Donation of our Archives collection

to Wright State University

April 27, 2008

2 to 4 p.m.

at the

Bossler Mansion

136 Dutoit Street

For more information, visit our website or Wright State University's website. Kudos to Susan for organizing this project!

We hope to see you for this once-in-a-lifetime event, which represents over 100 years of history in St. Anne's Hill.

UPDATE: The Dayton Daily News printed a blurb about the event on Thursday.

P.S. As a reminder, our next general meeting is Tuesday, May 6 at 7 p.m. in the Liederkrantz.