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Photo postcard of an I.O.O.F. celebration at Windsor, CO, April 26, 1909.

This photo captures a moment at a large-scale gathering held on April 26, 1909, in Windsor, Colorado, of the fraternal organization known as the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.).   The I.O.O.F. was founded in 1819 by Thomas Widley in Baltimore, Maryland, and evolved from the Order of Odd Fellows established in England during the 1700’s.    In 1851, an I.O.O.F. component for women was formed under the Rebekah Degree.  This happened in large part because of the efforts of journalist and businessman Schuyler Colfax, who later served as the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and then as Vice President under Ulysses S. Grant from 1869 to 1873. 

According to I.O.O.F. literature, it is believed that “odd fellowship” began a long time ago, possibly as far back as the 12th or 13th century, with the medieval trade guilds.  It served an important role at a time when there were no insurance companies or government programs to offer job protection in the event of sickness, or health benefits to help see individuals and families through adversity.  If a breadwinner became seriously ill or died, it could mean destitution for the worker’s family, including the inability to even pay for a decent burial for their loved one.    In caring for its members, the I.O.O.F.  would promise to “visit the sick, bury the dead, educate the orphans, and care for the widows.”   

As to the derivation of the term “odd fellows,” a couple of theories are:   1) That common workers (in 18th century England, for example) coming together to form a fraternity for social unity, fellowship and mutual help would be such a  marked departure from the norms of the time that they would be considered peculiar, or odd, fellows;   2) That trades which did not have their own guilds or unions were considered “odd jobs.” When the holders of these jobs came together, it could be inferred that they were odd fellows .  As one I.O.O.F. official described these organizations:   They  “banded together and initially met in the back rooms of pubs, paying a penny per week in dues that would help members who fell ill or had died. Eventually, the idea spread and formed a network of more formalized Lodges and the Odd Fellows developed their own unique rituals, philosophy, and purpose.”

At the time this photo was taken, the I.O.O.F was in its heyday.   By 1889 it had lodges in every state of the union and in 1896 was considered the largest fraternal order in the world.   The Great Depression and FDR’s New Deal, however, brought a big decline in U.S. membership: during the depression many people could not afford the membership fees, and FDR’s social programs lessened the need for the services provided by the I.O.O.F. 

The Windsor I.O.O.F. lodge, named “Lakeside Lodge No. 88,” occupied the upper story of a two-story building which still stands at 414 Main Street.   A local merchant, Harrison Teller, who owned the Windsor Mercantile store, wanted to expand his business.  Coincidentally, the Windsor I.O.O.F. was wanting to build a permanent meeting space.  Teller and the I.O.O.F. came together in the construction of a 2-story building, whereby Teller would pay for the construction of the first floor, where his store would be located, and the I.O.O.F. lodge would pay for the second floor.    The cost of the second story was $2,665.  It contained offices, a kitchen, dining room, a 52-by-32-foot meeting room and its own exterior entrance.  Member donations covered nearly half of the cost of its construction.   During the influenza pandemic of 1918-19 the lodge space served as an emergency hospital.  Current-day merchants using the first floor are the Manweiler Appliance store and the My Favorite Things collectibles and antiques store.    The second floor now houses apartments.   If you would like to see the building,go into Google Maps athttps://www.google.com/maps/  and enter “414 MainStreet Windsor, CO.”    If you’ll look towards the top of the building, you’ll see the stone plaque that reads “I.O.O.F  1898.”  Beneath these words are the three links representing the I.O.O.F. motto of “Friendship, Love and Truth.”

In anticipation of the April 26th celebration, the Longmont Ledger reported that it “has aroused considerable interest among the various lodges of the Poudre Valley Association and promises to be the greatest event of its kind in the history of Northern Colorado.”   It said the  event would see the introduction of “new and novel features, including canton formations.”  Given the presence in the picture of what look to be men marching in military-type uniforms, the term “canton” is most likely a reference to the uniformed, semi-military branch of the IOOF known as the Patriarchs Militant.  This is the highest branch of the I.O.O.F.   The  name Patriarchs Militant is intended to convey “the two-fold idea of peace and soldierly valor.”    Comprised originally of military men and Civil War veterans, it was officially adopted by the I.O.O.F in 1885.    

In addition to Windsor, towns participating in the event would include Boulder, Eaton, Fort Collins, Greeley, Lafayette, Longmont and Tinmath.  The Colorado Southern Railway offered area towns discount round-trip tickets for the celebration – e.g., $1.25 for Longmont attendees, $1.50 for Boulderites, and $2.00 for guests from Lafayette . 

The estimated turnout for the Monday event was between and 1,700 and 2,000 people.  The parade pictured in the photo, which took place in the morning, featured the Fort Collins and Loveland cantons, a drum corps from Loveland and lodges and bands from Lafayette, Tinmath and Windsor.   The Rebekahs put on a program at the Methodist Episcopal church in the afternoon, which featured instrumental  performances and song.   The evening would feature “a grand ball and dancing on a specially constructed floor under a mammoth tent.” 

The I.O.O.F. gathering in Windsor had been preceded less than three months earlier by an event of possibly greater interest to Windsor’s townspeople.  This was the introduction of electric lighting to the town on the evening of February 2nd.   About 2,000 gathered around the substation of the electric light company to witness the turn of a switch by Miss Elsie Alexander, deemed via competition to be the most popular girl in Windsor.    Following the ceremony were speeches and a celebration with bands, dancing and food.  

It’s interesting to note that the May 1, 1909, postmark on this card says “New Windsor, Colo.”  This is because around 1897 Uncle Sam informed Windsor that its post office could not carry the name Windsor because there was already a Windsor, California (located in current-day Sonoma County).   But they said they would allow the name “New Windsor.”   Maybe Uncle Sam was just being a worry wort, but “New Windsor” it was.  That remained the case until 1911, when the town received the welcome news from Sam that the town’s true name could be reflected in the name of its post office. 

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