HISTORIAN’S  REPORT  to the  TOWN  BOARD

August  17,  2010

            The weather seems to be cooling off some, which is much more to my liking since I’m canning pickled beets.

            Don Shaner stopped in while I was on vacation & told Sharon some general history of events at Washburn Hall.  Please, let me know if you are aware of specific events held there.  It would be a welcome addition to the history of that building.

            I had told you awhile back of the poster of the Knights of the Maccabees of the World given to us by Molly Melious.  I found, in a google search, that it was/is a fraternal organization based on the exploits of the Jewish military genius, Judas Maccabeus.  His wisdom in the use of power and the fact that he seems to have been the first recorded military leader to order his soldiers to reserve a part of their spoils for the widows & orphans of their fallen colleagues appeal to men & women of every generation.

            The Maccabees was founded in 1878 in London, Ontario, Canada.  The Ladies of the Maccabees (L.O.T.M.) was founded in Muskegon, Michigan in 1885 & merged with the Maccabees proper in 1926.

            The local groups are called tents not chapters or lodges as in other organizations.

            The following is copied from the poster, which is on the bulletin board inside the front door of the Town Hall.  The Charter was granted to:  “Stanley Tent #254 located at Stanley, New York under the Supreme Tent of the K.O.T.M. of the World at the Great Tent for the State of New York, the 4^th day of February 1899.”

            The Officers for the Stanley Tent were listed as follows: 

Sir.Kt.Com.—--------J.W. Read

  “    “  Lt.Com.-------J.J. Barden

  “    “  R.K.------------S.A. Funk

  “    “  F.K.------------J.H.Coon

  “    “  Chaplain------Wm. Fake

  “    “  Sergt.-----------H.W. Raymer

  “    “  Phy.-------------C.N. Pettit

  “    “  Mat.A.----------J.P. Williams

  “    “  1stMofG-------Thomas Jewitt

  “    “  2ndMofG------J.H. Pulver

  “    “  Sentinel--------E.W. Monagle

  “    “  Picket----------Jos. Cooper

            I do not know yet what the abbreviations of the Officers mean.  See other side for more info.

Members had gravestone markers signifying membership, a beehive for ladies & a tent for men.  Please, let me know if you see any in our cemeteries, especially the Officers listed, so we’ll have a more complete history of local involvement in the Maccabees.

Jane Wolfe, Historian