Longmont, Then and Now #7: Odd Fellows Building, 1907

Happy 100th Anniversary, Longmont Odd Fellows Lodge Building, 1907-2007

Downtown Longmont's most majestic building, in my opinion, is the Odd Fellows Lodge (fullname: International Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F) Lodge No. 29) Building, on the east side of Main street, between Fourth And Fifth Avenue. This year (2007) happens to be the 100th anniversary of its construction, so it's a good time to take a look at this building, past and present. If you're wondering about the history of the Odd Fellows and their name, an overview can be found on the Longmont Odd Fellows site, on Wikipedia, and also on the worldwide Odd Fellows page.

I'm surprised at not seeing this building designated as one of Longmont's designated landmarks. If you know why it's not, feel free to leave a comment.

The Lodge, in the 1907 to 1908 timeframe:



The foundation of the Lodge was started in June of 1907 and the construction of the brick walls started three months later in September. Finished in February 1908, the total cost of the building, including furniture, was $27,000. The grand dedication was held on a Monday evening, March 30, 1908 with 400 attendees, complete with musical entertainment, ice cream, punch, and wafers. Longmont I. O. O. F No. 29 membership count at dedication time was 285 members. The Longmont I. O. O. F chapter itself was founded thirty years earlier in 1877, and they had used various other places to meet before having their new grand permanent home.

The first tenant of the lower floor, beginning in October 1907, was the Schauer Brothers (Albert, Frank, and William) combination Bakery, Butcher, and Grocery store. Today, this area is the Great Frame Up gallery and store.

The similar perspective 100 years later, on December 2, 2007 from across the street, looking southeast:


Built in 1907, as noted on the top of the building:


The view looking northeast:


These guys on the roof looked they were working on holiday lights.



A summary of the informal "Longmont: Then and Now" series so far:

• #1; Farmers National Bank
• #2: Main Street Looking North
• #3: Main Street, 1915
• #4: Coffman Street, 1909
• #5: The Imperial Hotel and Main Street, 1909
• #6: Main Street, mid-1960s