The Not-So-Secret Secret Society of Dumfries
By: Lisa Timmerman, Executive Director
Visitors often ask about the origin of our town’s name noting it seems odd until we discuss our connections to Scotland. However, the name of the town was not the only odd feature of our community – the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) instituted a Grand Lodge on 02/22/1901, membership attracting people throughout NOVA and from Quantico. So, what is an odd fellow?
(Source: Potomac Local News, 09/01/1971)
The American Independent Order of Odd Fellows trace their origins to the Seven Stars Tavern in Baltimore and credit Thomas Wildey and his affiliation with the Independent Order of Oddfellows Manchester Unity. These early unincorporated lodges generally modeled the European Grand United Order of Odd Fellows, but never incorporated, objecting to black member chapters. Peter Ogden secured membership with the English Grand United Order of Odd Fellows and promoted affiliation with them as the English welcomed men of any color. The official affiliated group opened the Philomathean Lodge and eventually the Hamilton Lodge in New York as membership grew and the Order expanded. In Virginia, Alexandria hosted the Odd Fellows Hall built by George Seaton, funding provided partly through the Freedman’s Bureau, providing a place for community and social events, particularly crucial during the Jim Crow era. While the official organization continued to affiliate with their international family, the American Independent Order also expanded although membership declined during the Civil War. Industrialization and the need for social and worker reforms revived the order and by the 1930s, you could find a lodge in every state. We should note that the IOOF formed a branch known as the “Daughters of Rebekah”, which evolved to “The Rebekahs”, originally for females only, founded in September 1851. The Grand United Order of Odd Fellows established the “Household of Ruth” – a separate organization for women, forming around 1857.
The current purpose of the organization is to “visit the sick, relieve the distressed, bury the dead, and educate the orphan,” with a mission to “improve and elevate the character of mankind.” In order to do this, the organization committed itself to promoting principles such as friendship and truth, aiding each other and those less fortunate in their communities, and promoting “good will and harmony through principle of universal fraternity, all men and women regardless of race, nationality, religion, social order, gender, rank, and station are brothers and sisters”. The name’s origins are still unclear. Two theories noted by the IOOF reflect the character and jobs of the members. Was it odd to be so dedicated to assisting the community in the 1700s? Or perhaps the early members worked many “odd jobs”? We will not even attempt to answer this question as it would mean determining everything from societal perceptions to expressions (example: when did the phrase “odd jobs” even become a thing and does it mean something different today?)
(Source: Potomac Local News, 09/01/1971)
Based on interviews with Dumfries Lodge Members, such as James Williams, the Dumfries order sponsored square dances and dinners with proceeds supporting orphanages and elderly assisted living facilities. Williams noted, “Today [1971] if someone is sick or injured he is taken by the rescue squad to the hospital, but in the old days the nearest doctor was in Occoquan and someone had to ride a horse there to get him. Members would take turns staying up throughout the night with the sick and doing chores for him. Sometimes they would get together and cut the corn or do the haying for him.”
The original R.E. Lee Lodge burned in the 1927 Dumfries blaze (spoilers if you have not read that blog…), but the members, including many marines, decided to rebuild. In 1990, William F. Keys, one of the three original Odd Fellows still alive stated, “…so when the building was layed off the ground was found to be of pretty nice white sand and as there was no back hoes and heavy equipment picks shovels and wheel barrows were put to use and Will Gallahan was hired to make the cement blocks from the sand out of the basement…all of the cement blocks were made on the lot”. He recalled the building’s need for a sewer line and septic field, with members purchasing the cement blocks for $1.00 to help raise funds. He concluded, “Another way of raising money was by Square Dances but that put such a strain on the building by the swaying of the dancers that it had to be stopped and a wooden floor laid in the basement and a second entrance and exit made to the basement…”
In August of 1990, HDVI and the Town of Dumfries contacted the Virginia Department of Historic Resources regarding placing the Dumfries Odd Fellows Lodge Hall Building on the National and Virginia Register. While ultimately the initiative failed, this unique and eclectic building remains standing in Dumfries on Main Street. One almost wonders if you could still hear pounding feet and laughter as the wooden floor and walls are witness to a very odd time in Dumfries history.
Special Note: Would you like your story about Dumfries and/or PWC country to be archived by Historic Dumfries Virginia? Contact us today to discuss digital interviews! Please consider supporting us through this pandemic – whether by purchasing our extremely low-cost memberships ranging from $10-30 (click here) or a donation (here).
(Sources: AfroVirginia Virginia Humanities: Odd Fellows Hall; Barga, Michael, “Grand United Order of Odd Fellows in America (1843-Present), VCU Libraries: Social Welfare History Project;; HDVI Archival File Folder: Interview with William F. Keys, Preliminary Information Request with the Department of Historic Resources; Independent Order of Odd Fellows: The Sovereign Grand Lodge; Mead, Eileen. “Over 50 Years of ‘Friendship, love and truth’ Potomac News, 09/01/1971)
