Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 65, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 April 1899 — An Odd Fellows’ Home. [ARTICLE]

An Odd Fellows’ Home.

The local lodge of Odd Fellows and their friends probably know that ground has been broken for the Indiana Odd Fellows’ Home for Indigent Members and Orphans, at Auburn, this state, situated in DeKalb county, near the northeastern corner of the state. May 17 the corner will be laid, and on the first day of the new century the first fraternity home in Indiana will be dedicated. When the French Gothic building stands completed it will represent an expenditure of $35,208, and when furnished Indiana Odd Fellows will have invested $50,000, and will have, it is said, the most complete I. O. O. F. home in the country. It is built to accommodate 200 people, and when it is filled will be maintained on the trifling sum of 2 cents a month for each Odd Fellow, and 1 cent from each Daughter of Rebekah in the state, which means an annuity of between, $13,000 and $14,000 on the present membership. The building will be four stories high, with a basement under all the structure, two floors and an attic. The building is in the shape of a maltose cross, being from front to rear entrance 153 feet, and from end to end 176 feet. The home will stand in the center of a fortyacre tract, donated as a bonus for locating the home, and will be annexed to the city, thus giving the children the advantage of the city schools. It will have steam heating and electric lighting equipment.