LODGES AND SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS

The Pomona Lodge No. 138 A.F. & A.M. was chartered on October 16, 1873, with 14 members. The first officers were Ben F. Snyder, W. M.; Hans Woods, S. M.; W. Wait, J. M.; and Sanford Topping, Sec. At the first meetings the group met in the Hensley building. Later the lodge rooms were located on the second floor of the two-story building erected in 1881 by Jonathan Parkinson. This building was of brick and stone. Parkinson built it for a store at a cost of 45,000. The second story was used as a hall. This is the building now being used by the Farmers Union Co-op on the corner of Franklin and Main Streets.

A record in 1883 mentions that Pomona had a G.A.R. Post No. 86. The boys met the third Saturdays in each month to fraternize and recount their army experiences. At that time, A. E. Geyer was P. Adjt. and Capt. J. M. Griffin was P.C. We have been unable to locate additional information though we know the post was active much later.

For some reason the Masons lost their charter. It was rechartered as McKinley Lodge No. 41 on February 15, 1905. This charter lists the following officers: Morton R. Limbocker, Master; Fred Baldwin, Senior Warden; and Axil Westman, Junior Warden.

The Pomona Rebekah Lodge, No. 253, received its charter on October 10, 1893. The charter members were: Sisters Lillian Vigor, Jennie Garrison, Gertrude Benton, Stella Hatfield, Lena Pearson, Sophia Parkinson, Maggie Walters, Orie Hatfield, Eliza Spangler, Eda F. Clevey, Mary L. Holingsworth, and Lou Parkinson; and brothers: J. W. Spangler, J. F. Vigor, J. C. Walters, Ed Hollingsworth, J. H. Hammons, John Shout, A. M. Harrison, Nelson Shive, Ben Clevey, A. S. Benton, J. H. Parkinson, and J. A. Hudelson. This organization is still quite active.

Pomona Lodge, No. 423, I.O.O.F., was charter in 1893 on October 11, by the Grand Lodge of Kansas at Fort Scott in the seventy-fifth year of Odd Fellows. The charter members were W. F. Pierson, G. H. Rice, R. S. Pierson, J. W. Spangler, W. B. Hutchinson, and J. H. Bean. J. W. Spangler, W. B. Hutchinson, and J. H. Bean were trustees.

Lots were purchased by an agreement drawn on March 28, 1903, between the Odd Fellows and the Citizens State Bank and William Wiggins. A sum of 4200 was paid. The lodge was given a 99-year lease or privilege of building an upper story over the bank and Wiggins building. since that time the lodge has met in this space. Members in 1903 included: A. S. Benton, J. F. Vigor, J. W. Spangler, Ed. Hollingsworth, J. H. Parkinson, A. M. Garrison, Geo. Rice, S. V. Rice; Geo. O'Brien, E. J. Baugh, B. E. Clevy, O. C. Hughes, J. C. Morrison, Thos. Buskin, J. A. Hudelson, John M. Dyer, W. S. Staley, R. S. Pearson, John A. Shout, Wash Reed, J. Ernest, Robt. Martin, Nelson Shibe, J. M. Vickers, Lewis Cain, Hugh Maxey, J. L. Hatfield, H. G. Keitz, John Harmmon, John H. Barnes, Chas. Vickers, Henry Kratz, R. B. Sutherland, J. H. Peterson, J. H. Houser, Emmett King, Frank Rothwell, J. C. Walters, and A. S. Stewart. Earlier meetings were held in the Parkinson hall.

Pomona Chapter, No. 305, Order of the Eastern Star was organized on May 14, 1908. Amy Limbocker was worthy matron; Joseph Sturn, worthy patron; and Grace Sturn, associate matron. There was no associate patron at that time. The charter members included: Grace Sturn, Lottie Dyer, Minnie Hudelson, Frances Ankeny, Lizzie Swayze, Etta Chrisman, J. M. Sturn, W. W. Connelly,, F. A. Heidner, M. A. Limbocker, Mary Baskin, Amy Limbocker, Flora Boothe, Isabelle Hutchings, Bertha Duvall, Emma Heidner, E. G. Swayze, Melissa Connelly, Rose Hensley, and Maud Reed. There is one member living, Esther Kratz, who has been a member for fifty years and entitled to a 50-year pin.

We know that the Royal Neighbors were quit active int he early days, but no authentic information has been located on their activities. There are pictures of their floats on the picnic occasions but no names of the people on them. The Woodman are another group for which we lack information. There could be other organizations of which we have no knowlege.

The Pomona Woman's Club was organized on October 12, 1920, at the home of Mrs. S. G. Cox, wife of the superintendent of schools. Mrs. E. F. Medearis, Mrs. S. M. Marshall, and Mrs. A. L. Cross of Quenemo helped to organize the club. There were 14 charter members: Fannie Kraus, Mrs. M. E. Hostetter, Carrie Ullom, Mrs. S. G. Cox, Ruth Abel, Ida Bliss, Mary E. Hudelson, Lulu Hummel, Charlotta Johnson, Alice Lawrence, Ann Lawrence, Mary L. Page, Jessie Maxey, Maude Stevens, Belle P. Whetstone. Mabel Hudelson and Maude Hale were not listed on the charter day but were regular members. Mrs. Mary E. Hudelson was elected on honorary charter member.

During the first eight years, they met in the member's homes. Interesting and constructive programs were held. Members paid yearly dues and 10 cents for their luncheon each meeting.

Money was raised for the club work through home talent plays, carnivals, rummage and food sales. The mother-daughter banquets were well attended and served as another source of revenue.

In 1928 they began to hold their meetings in the Methodist church annex.

They purchased the private library collection of a Mr. E. T. Bryant in 1922. The books were made available to the public on a rental basis in the building where the barber shop is now. Each year they added books to the collection. When the club disbanded, the books were given to the schools.

In 1926 they had tables made for the City Park and donated $75 for a shelter house for the park. Through the years the club was active, they did many things for the benefit of the community. They contributed money to the schools for music, gave to the Ottawa hospital fund, added shrubs and bulbs to the Pomona cemetery, and gave money to the Methodist church budget many times. They had the kitchen and hallway in the church annex plastered and built cupboards in the kitchen. In 1945 they bought shingles for the church roof and had the church papered in 1946. Gifts of clothing, money, and food were made to needy families.

Club attendance started to decrease in 1945 and by 1948 they were no longer active. The money left in the treasury was given to the Methodist church building fund.

The Lions Club was organized on April 23, 1954, sponsored by the Ottawa Lions club with Mrs. Harry B. Jacobson of Greeley, Colorado, as organizer or special representative. The charter presentation date was May 28, 1954.

The first officers were elected as follows: President, Dr. John F. Hudelson; First Vice President, W. W. Clevenger; Second Vice President, Robert L. Hudelson; Third Vice President, Vernon W. Parks; Secretary and Treasurer, Neal B. Baxter, Lion Tamer, Lamar F. Wallace; Tail Twister, Jack Nelson; and directors of Charles L. Cain, Roy E. Reed, Bob Burd, and Lenoel E. Parks. Besides the above, charter members included: Karl D. Anderson, Charlie G. Barker, Raymond Collins, Russell L. Crites of Ottawa, John T. Dickey, Gordon C. Ellison, Albert J. Grosdidier, Earl Hart, N. V. Hudelson, R. A. Hughes, Lyle E. Hunt, Vernon W. Parks, Ray O. Reed, Ernest C. Riley, and Albert Swallow.

Regular dinner meetings are held in the Methodist church basement on the second and fourth Mondays of each month. This organization has generously given to many worth-while projects in the community. Each year a boy from the junior class of the high school is sponsored for Boys State. The athletic banquet honoring the high and grade school athletes is given each spring. Bleacher seats were purchased for use on the high school athletic field. Several years ago, the club paid for special eye examinations for all school students. They donated $100 for the fund to purchase band uniforms. The little league baseball club is sponsored by the Lions. This year the main project is to be the beautifying of Woodlawn Cemetery.

An annual event, which has become one of the principal fund raising sources, is the ham and bean supper and street carnival usually held in September. The ham and beans are cooked in a huge iron kettle over an open fire. People come from near and far for an evening of fun and entertainment. Service organizations such as this have contributed much to the continued development of Pomona.