May 25, 1926: The Independent Order of the Odd Fellows, Lodge 708, Dedicates Its New Home

By Margaret Leidy Harner from her book One Day at a Time: A Social History of Boyertown, PA.

May 25, 1926: The Independent Order of the Odd Fellows, Lodge 708, 400 members strong, is dedicating its new home today. They bought the Rahn building at 35 East Philadelphia Avenue for $20,000 two years ago and have worked quickly to achieve their dream of a magnificent new meeting place.

The three-story structure came complete with a barber shop and pool hall. They also purchased the property to the west where Dr. Gordon Borneman had his dental office, for additional space, extending the existing structure 70 feet to the rear.

Their new house has two storefronts and a banquet hall on the first floor, a kitchen and another social hall in the basement, apartments on the second floor and a beautiful third-story lodge hall. It cost $55,000.

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