| Summary: | Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Rebekahs On the 30th of March, 1903, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows was instituted and established in the Village of Binford by members from the lodge at Cooperstown No. 37, with O. S. Gunderson, Oscar Greenland, Roy Vogen, R. R. Raymond, and G. B. Mansfield as organizers. It became known as Binford Lodge No. 77. At this meeting, the following candidates were initiated: Fred G. Lewis, Ben E. Nelson, Andrew Norstrum, Knute Rogne, Martin Knapp, John Knapp, H. M. Hanson, E. M. Jackson, John Mustad, August Evers, Louis Hanstad, N. O. Haugen, Joseph Ebentire, B. A. Hermandson, and R. W. McAvley. The place of organization was the upper floor of the Marvin Knapp store building, which stood on the lot adjoining the present F & M Bank building on the south. This building burned down in the fall of 1908. The Lodge continued to hold its meetings in this building for the first four years, although the conditions were quite unfavorable for holding lodge meetings. As the month went by, committees were appointed to endeavor to find a more suitable place for holding lodge meetings. In 1906, Ben E. Nelson built an Opera House with the first floor containing an auditorium used for dancing and public gatherings and second or upper floor developing into a beautiful lodge room with all the necessary furnishings for good lodge and social activities. This building is still in existence and used today in 1981. The Binford Lodge rented the upper floor until 1946, when they purchased it and they became the sole owner. Four members had the distinction of becoming Grand Master of the State of North Dakota; namely: E. M. Jackson, L. P. Larson, Fred Lewis, and Wm. Phelps, Jr. Fred Lewis also held the office of Grand Secretary one year. He also lived to be honored and recognized for 65 years of continous membership in the Binford Lodge when the lodge observed this anniversary in 1968. Man was never created to live and work alone, so the women's organization known as the Rebekah Assembly came into existence as a definite part of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Wildrose Rebekah Lodge No. 67 of Binford was instituted March 30, 1909, with the following as charter members: Bertha Greenland, Emily Reid, Emma Vogen, Annie Moddie, Oscar Greenland, Belle Lewis, Allie Evers, Clara Brown, Martha Gunderson, and E. J. Jackson. The lodge continued to grow and prosper, protraying the outstanding principles of Odd Fellowship and aiding greatly in the many social activities. At a special meeting in 1981 the following oldest living members were recognized and honored: Annie Hegland Thune having joined in 1916, Hazel Maurer Aim in 1917, Edna Lewis LaPlant and Blanche Sondrall Standal in 1924, and Helen Aim Knapp in 1926. Hazel Aim served as State President of Rebekah Assemblies of North Dakota in 1935 and 1936. Wildrose Rebekah Lodge No. 67 of Binford is still active and enjoying the principles and fellowship that is so outstanding of these organizations. Closely associated with Binford is Red Willow Lake, just eight miles northwest of town. In 1918 the Red Willow Lake Association was formed to build up and promote the resort at the lake. The present owners, Bill and Vernis Haines, have continued to improve the resort. Activities they sponsor through the summer are softball and baseball tournaments. They also have rollerskating, fishing, water skiing, boating, and camping. There are a large number of cottages aroung the lake. Page 14 Scanned with a Zeutschel Zeta book scanner at 300 dpi. Edited in Multi-page TIFF Editor.
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