Volume 043-2 - April 1989 (8 pages)

The oration was to be given by Past Grand Master William Hill, and delivered at the Theater, and the supper was served at the Armory, Hall of the Nevada Light Guards. The Daily Transcript reported all these details and summed it up by stating “It will be the grandest of celebrations ever gotten up in Nevada City.” On April 8, 1873 Oustomah Lodge held their first meeting in the new hall. The Hall Association declared a dividend of 1% per month for the quarter ending April Ist. Stockholders could get their coin on application to A.H. Parker at the Bank of Nevada County. The following appeared in The Transcript on April 24th, “The Chief Marshal of the Odd Fellows celebration desires all the Daughters of Rebecca of Nevada County to assemble at the National Exchange Hotel parlor at 10 o'clock on Friday morning, from whence they will be escorted by the Chairman of the Reception committee to the new hall where seats have been provided for them to witness the dedicatory ceremonies.” The celebration went off as planned. The procession went up and down Broad Street, the dedication was attended by over 300 people, the theater was standing room only for the oration, after which a ball was held and went on until 4 o'clock in the morning. The supper was received with special mention; it was served from 11 PM until 3:30 AM and the hall seated 120 at a time, with the tables being set 4 times over. The Transcript next reported the affair had gone off in splendid fashion in spite of the fact that some of the Encampment members could not get there from North San Juan because of an epizootic horse disease and many members were without horses. Members of San Juan Odd Fellows Lodge made a slow trip to the celebration because of the horse disease. They arrived in town about 9 AM, paraded down Broad Street preceded by the San Juan Brass Band, and back to the theater where they awaited the formation of the procession. On March 3, 1874 Brother Charley Marsh announced that books and fixtures of the Nevada Library Association could be purchased for a very small sum. A committee of the lodge was appointed to confer with the trustees of the Library Association and report back. In May Mr. Marsh reported they could purchase the library for the amount of its indebtedness which was about $100. They proceeded to purchase the library books and formed rules for the library. When the rules were adopted and the library opening planned, they voted that 10% of all lodge fees and dues be set aside as a Library Fund. Later on all these books were transferred to the Nevada City Carnegie Library. Today you can still find these very old books, with the IOOF card pocket in them at the library giving the rules and regulations. On July 6, 1905 Brooklyn Lodge #46 of You Bet and on November 10, 1920 Samaritan Lodge #124 of Washington were consolidated into Oustomah; also 12 members of defunct Union Lodge #48 of North Bloomfield are with us. We hold in grateful rememberance many brothers who at their death so substantially showed their appreciation of old Oustomah Lodge and of those brothers who, when entitled to benefits, refused to accept them. Mistletoe Encampment #47 was chartered September 28, 1874 with 9 members. Mistletoe Historical Encampment #47 was chartered October 20, 1971 and Mistletoe Historical Ladies Encampment Auxiliary chartered July 15, 1972. Neva Rebekah Lodge #119 was chartered April 26, 1887, celebrating their 100 active years just last year. Over the years there has been splendid. cooperation between the Odd Fellows and Neva Rebekah Lodge. Without their hearty cooperation and hard work many of the projects and improvements to our Lodge hall could never have been completed. Ona 1920 Christmas Greeting card to all the members, there is listed the financial worth of Oustomah Lodge at that time: $23,118 and a membership of 178. The brothers having paid out in relief and charity up to that date $112,000. Oustomah Lodge is no different from many other small lodges in California, having had its share of problems with lack of funds, small membership and other things. But they have endured and over the years, the lodge and many /"™ of its members have taken very active parts in * the community, in local government and business. Today Oustomah Lodge is in good shape. We have good tenants in the building and the building itself is in good repair. With the help of our sister Rebekahs we hope to be around a long time, even another hundred and thirtyfive years or so. In closing I would like to read a poem composed by members of Neva Rebekah Lodge for Oustomah on October 20, 1970. The Saga of Oustomah Lodge In a pleasant little village in the California hills Where the golden nuggets sparkle in the streams A hardy band of pioneers, far away from home Gathered in a meeting, in fulfillment of their dreams. Many, in their eastern homes, had joined a local lodge Before they crossed the western plains so broad And they called themselves Odd Fellows, just because You know they really were distinctly very odd. So when they reached this village in the California hills And settled down to earn a living there They formed another lodge to which they might belong And decided they would call it Oustomah. Today in this little village in the California hills Oustomah sixteen has weathered many tests Though the members are not many, they make up for that in style And they all stand up and shout “We are the very best.” From the Literature In the Bulletin issue for July 1982, we inaugurated the feature, mentioned above. At the time, we described this new feature as follows: “It is the idea to mention and briefly review contributions relating to Nevada County history, which have appeared in historical journals or in other publications. Those who are interested in the history of our county often miss such contributions. Over the years, this column will become a valuable source for the bibliography of Nevada County. Since I cannot subscribe to all journals in which such material could be found, I asked our readership to draw my attention to suitable subjects. This however has not worked out. It is therefore with pleasure that I can thank Rudy Kopf for submitting the entry which follows. Editor 12 David Beesley: From Chinese to Chinese American: Chinese Women and Families in a Sierra Nevada Town. California History, vol. 67, no. 3, (September 1988), pp. 268-179. Dave Beesley describes the evolution of the Chinese women from mainly prostitutes in the early days, to respectable women and housewives of today. I cannot possibly summarize and characterize Beesley’s contribution better than he has done himself in the last paragraph of this paper. Therefore we quote him verbatim. “Nevada County is one of several California counties included in the Sierra Nevada which has seen a long term pattern for residence for those of Chinese descent. They were first drawn to the area by placer gold mining. The continued economic opportunity which came with railroad construction, the timber industry, and hydraulic, and quartz mining gave an opportunity for many Chinese to remain there. In the time from 1850 to 1920, the nature of this immigrant community changed. At first, it was sojourner-oriented, predominantly male, with most of the few women engaged in prostitution to serve this bachelor society. By the 1920s and 1930s, although some single men remained, stranded because of the exclusion laws and poverty, a small native-born community of families of Chinese descent had grown. This makes the Nevada County, California experience important, because it sheds light on the pioneer Chinese-American community in America. These people of Chinese descent built families against tremendous odds. They survived in an ephemeral mining economy, adapting to changes in sources and techniques. They carved out economic niches, such as farming, and provided needed services. They were hurt by organized anti-Chinese actions mounted at the local, state, and national level, but a few managed to hold on and eventually achieve community acceptance. Theirs is an important part of the story of American immigrant origins. Please turn to page 15, top. oa

The oration was to be given by Past Grand Master William Hill, and delivered at the Theater, and the supper was served at the Armory, Hall of the Nevada Light Guards. The Daily Transcript reported all these details and summed it up by stating “It will be the grandest of celebrations ever gotten up in Nevada City.” On April 8, 1873 Oustomah Lodge held their first meeting in the new hall. The Hall Association declared a dividend of 1% per month for the quarter ending April Ist. Stockholders could get their coin on application to A.H. Parker at the Bank of Nevada County. The following appeared in The Transcript on April 24th, “The Chief Marshal of the Odd Fellows celebration desires all the Daughters of Rebecca of Nevada County to assemble at the National Exchange Hotel parlor at 10 o'clock on Friday morning, from whence they will be escorted by the Chairman of the Reception committee to the new hall where seats have been provided for them to witness the dedicatory ceremonies.” The celebration went off as planned. The procession went up and down Broad Street, the dedication was attended by over 300 people, the theater was standing room only for the oration, after which a ball was held and went on until 4 o'clock in the morning. The supper was received with special mention; it was served from 11 PM until 3:30 AM and the hall seated 120 at a time, with the tables being set 4 times over. The Transcript next reported the affair had gone off in splendid fashion in spite of the fact that some of the Encampment members could not get there from North San Juan because of an epizootic horse disease and many members were without horses. Members of San Juan Odd Fellows Lodge made a slow trip to the celebration because of the horse disease. They arrived in town about 9 AM, paraded down Broad Street preceded by the San Juan Brass Band, and back to the theater where they awaited the formation of the procession. On March 3, 1874 Brother Charley Marsh announced that books and fixtures of the Nevada Library Association could be purchased for a very small sum. A committee of the lodge was appointed to confer with the trustees of the Library Association and report back. In May Mr. Marsh reported they could purchase the library for the amount of its indebtedness which was about $100. They proceeded to purchase the library books and formed rules for the library. When the rules were adopted and the library opening planned, they voted that 10% of all lodge fees and dues be set aside as a Library Fund. Later on all these books were transferred to the Nevada City Carnegie Library. Today you can still find these very old books, with the IOOF card pocket in them at the library giving the rules and regulations. On July 6, 1905 Brooklyn Lodge #46 of You Bet and on November 10, 1920 Samaritan Lodge #124 of Washington were consolidated into Oustomah; also 12 members of defunct Union Lodge #48 of North Bloomfield are with us. We hold in grateful rememberance many brothers who at their death so substantially showed their appreciation of old Oustomah Lodge and of those brothers who, when entitled to benefits, refused to accept them. Mistletoe Encampment #47 was chartered September 28, 1874 with 9 members. Mistletoe Historical Encampment #47 was chartered October 20, 1971 and Mistletoe Historical Ladies Encampment Auxiliary chartered July 15, 1972. Neva Rebekah Lodge #119 was chartered April 26, 1887, celebrating their 100 active years just last year. Over the years there has been splendid. cooperation between the Odd Fellows and Neva Rebekah Lodge. Without their hearty cooperation and hard work many of the projects and improvements to our Lodge hall could never have been completed. Ona 1920 Christmas Greeting card to all the members, there is listed the financial worth of Oustomah Lodge at that time: $23,118 and a membership of 178. The brothers having paid out in relief and charity up to that date $112,000. Oustomah Lodge is no different from many other small lodges in California, having had its share of problems with lack of funds, small membership and other things. But they have endured and over the years, the lodge and many /"™ of its members have taken very active parts in * the community, in local government and business.

Today Oustomah Lodge is in good shape. We have good tenants in the building and the building itself is in good repair. With the help of our sister Rebekahs we hope to be around a long time, even another hundred and thirtyfive years or so. In closing I would like to read a poem composed by members of Neva Rebekah Lodge for Oustomah on October 20, 1970. The Saga of Oustomah Lodge In a pleasant little village in the California hills Where the golden nuggets sparkle in the streams A hardy band of pioneers, far away from home Gathered in a meeting, in fulfillment of their dreams. Many, in their eastern homes, had joined a local lodge Before they crossed the western plains so broad And they called themselves Odd Fellows, just because You know they really were distinctly very odd. So when they reached this village in the California hills And settled down to earn a living there They formed another lodge to which they might belong And decided they would call it Oustomah. Today in this little village in the California hills Oustomah sixteen has weathered many tests Though the members are not many, they make up for that in style And they all stand up and shout “We are the very best.” From the Literature In the Bulletin issue for July 1982, we inaugurated the feature, mentioned above. At the time, we described this new feature as follows: “It is the idea to mention and briefly review contributions relating to Nevada County history, which have appeared in historical journals or in other publications. Those who are interested in the history of our county often miss such contributions. Over the years, this column will become a valuable source for the bibliography of Nevada County. Since I cannot subscribe to all journals in which such material could be found, I asked our readership to draw my attention to suitable subjects. This however has not worked out. It is therefore with pleasure that I can thank Rudy Kopf for submitting the entry which follows. Editor 12 David Beesley: From Chinese to Chinese American: Chinese Women and Families in a Sierra Nevada Town. California History, vol. 67, no. 3, (September 1988), pp. 268-179. Dave Beesley describes the evolution of the Chinese women from mainly prostitutes in the early days, to respectable women and housewives of today. I cannot possibly summarize and characterize Beesley’s contribution better than he has done himself in the last paragraph of this paper. Therefore we quote him verbatim. “Nevada County is one of several California counties included in the Sierra Nevada which has seen a long term pattern for residence for those of Chinese descent. They were first drawn to the area by placer gold mining. The continued economic opportunity which came with railroad construction, the timber industry, and hydraulic, and quartz mining gave an opportunity for many Chinese to remain there. In the time from 1850 to 1920, the nature of this immigrant community changed. At first, it was sojourner-oriented, predominantly male, with most of the few women engaged in prostitution to serve this bachelor society. By the 1920s and 1930s, although some single men remained, stranded because of the exclusion laws and poverty, a small native-born community of families of Chinese descent had grown. This makes the Nevada County, California experience important, because it sheds light on the pioneer Chinese-American community in America. These people of Chinese descent built families against tremendous odds. They survived in an ephemeral mining economy, adapting to changes in sources and techniques. They carved out economic niches, such as farming, and provided needed services. They were hurt by organized anti-Chinese actions mounted at the local, state, and national level, but a few managed to hold on and eventually achieve community acceptance. Theirs is an important part of the story of American immigrant origins. Please turn to page 15, top. oa