News: Spencer History – Early Lodges & M.W.A.

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Doolittle, Artman Blaisdell, Elliot, Graves, Lund, Matthes, Olin, Wilber, Wendell, Siemers

Source: Spencer Centennial Book (1874 – 1974)

According to the "Spencer Advance" of June 1888, there was the Temple of Honor (Evergreen Temple No. 219) meeting each Tuesday in Prentice's Hall, and Good Templars (Irene Lodge No. 186) meeting each Saturday evening at the same place. There was also an Odd Fellows Lodge No. 323 which met in the hall above Heath's Drug Store.

Modern Woodmen of America Camp No. 1124 was chartered October 22, 1894 with the following Charter Members: S. W. Doolittle, M.D., Norman S. Artman, W. S. Blaisdell, Edgar Elliot, John D. Graves, Jacob W. Lund, Emil C. Matthes, David P. Olin, Henry Wilber, and G. W. Wendell.

Membership continued to increase and in the early 1900's the camp built a hall on West Main Street on land now owned by Jensen's Motors. There being no Municipal hall, it was used often by other organizations and for school programs, for the Memorial Day Program, home talent plays, dances, basketball games and movies. Sometime in the 1940's, the building was sold to Herman Siemers who moved it west of town on Highway 98 and converted it into the Little Lluo.

When Camp No. 1124 was consolidated with the Marshfield Camp May 6, 1968, Harley Graves had served 52 years as Camp Clerk.