Friday, August 20, 2010

International Order of Odd Fellows

I.O.O.F BuildingSee me, I'm by the tree, you know you can always click on the picture to make the picture bigger; and of course me too! Look just to the left of the tree once you click to make the picture bigger and you'll see Ark Lodge No 270, I.O.O.F. I've seen this cool old building almost all my life; but until recently didn't know what it was. I.O.O.F. stands for International Order of Odd Fellows. This is located at 67 East Dublin Granville Road in Worthington, Ohio.
Ark Lodge #270This old building has quite an interesting story for us. It was built back in 1856 and is the oldest standing school building in Worthington. This building is 156 years old! It was built after Ohio had become a state, and just 6 years before the start of The Civil War. Two classrooms were located on the first floor while The I.O.O.F. lodge occupied the 2nd floor. The Odd Fellows Fraternity was established in 1855. Such a strange name so I thought you might wonder how the group got it's name. In 17th century England it was "odd" to find people organized for the purpose of giving aid to those in need. Sad statement really, that those who did in fact give aid to their fellow man were considered to be an "odd fellow".

The first lodge was founded in Baltimore, Maryland in April of 1819 by Thomas Wildey and 4 members from the order in England. The Odd Fellows were the first National Fraternity to include both men and women. Rebakah Degree was established in September of 1851 based on teachings from The Bible and written by honorable Schuyler Colfax, who later served as Vice President of The United States (1868-1873) with President Ulysses S. Grant.
I'm pointing out a round plaque that rests to the left of the front door to this building, it indicates this is a Heritage Site for the city of Worthington.
The I.O.O.F. along with Rebekah lodges were the first to establish homes for it's senior members and orphans. I found this from the I.O.O.F. membership area:
A person that is 16-18 years or older who believes in a Supreme Being, Creator and Preserver of the Universe, and is faithful to their Country. Through support of projects in their local community, State/Providence or Nationally that improve or elevate the character of mankind.
Odd Fellowship Teaches
  • Wise and serious truths and opens up before its members opportunities for useful service.
  • Belief in a Supreme Being, the Creator and Preserver of the Universe.
  • The lesson of fraternity, that all are of one family and therefore brethren.
  • The importance of the principle of Friendship, Love and Truth.
  • The privilege and duty of individual sympathy, mutual assistance and every-day service to ones fellows.
  • That humanity was intended to be one harmonious structure.
  • That each individual is a unit in that God-made temple.
  • Its members how to stand on their own feet, yet walk in step with their neighbors.
  • The difference between right and wrong.
  • That it is more blessed to give than to receive.
Many of those character traits are ones I learned from my parents, how bout you?

I often wonder as I see these interesting old buildings with such fascinating stories if any of our buildings being built today will still be standing for someone 156 years later to wonder about it history?

What do you think?
***
Activities to do with children might be to build a house with blocks, draw and color a building. Talk about all the things a building could be used for.
I always suggest doing math with the numbers presented here, finding the location on a map.
Walk around your neighborhood (or ride bikes), ask the kids to point out the building they think is the oldest. Discuss what the kids think is old, what does old mean to them?

See you next Friday for another Fun Adventure on Friday August 27.

Click Here for a listing of 16 Flat Stanley's Fun Friday Adventures.

*** 8-18-10 afternoon and pm---Jan from Animal Talk is on countdown now with surgery scheduled bright an early tomorrow am. She's running last minute errands today to be as ready as possible. I'll post update tomorrow after surgery, and do my best from there forward, until such time she has a live computer again....and or when she's able to sit up and communicate with you all herself. Send good vibs and prayers her way, please.

****UPDATE
AS OF 1:00 PM same day as surgery 8-19th
Surgery went well, she has metal plates, and 2 metal rods. Based on the testing done during surgery, there didn't appear to be any permanent nerve damage which is great news. Due to being nauseated, she was in recovery a bit longer then expected. When I left the hospital, she was sleeping and obviously in pain. Her husband, my brother and a good friend who's a nurse were with her. We'll go back later when's she's more rested and presumably awake. Do check back, I will update again later.
------as of 4:30 when I was started to head back to hospital.My brother suggested not going as she was completely out and would not be able to visit, and certainly we didn't want to wake her when she needs her rest. Will be going tomorrow am.

8-20 1 pm, Jan had a clear liquid diet and managed a pop sickle or two. Physical Therapy has been in the room hoping to get her up in a chair and do a bit of walking. She was up in chair briefly; but was too groggy to attempt walking and so went back to bed. The combination of pain meds and meds for continued nausea have snowed her. They plan to alter her meds to see if they can reach a level where she's comfortable enough to get up, and hopefully also contain the nausea. Please check back. I passed along the good wishes you've left for her and she was pleased to hear them.
8-21-10 9AM, the change in pain meds seem to be helping. She was able to get up and walk down the hall last night. Few more tests planned for a little later today, and pending how she does on those; could be released today. I'm floored she's improved that much, such exciting news. My brother is picking up a special lift chair (sorta like a recliner) to aid her at home.


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Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Girls Traveling in Breckenridge Colorado

First thing ladies traveling in Breckenridge want to do is get a facial and a pedicure. Pretty feet are fun, and well pretty!
pedicure pretty toesCan't show you a picture of the facial cause my eyes were closed. Aside from just plain feeling good, and pampering yourself girls; it's healthy. The air in Breckenridge is dry, DRY, very dry! There is no humidity which is comfortable, but a bit hard on your skin. You do need to use moisturizers even if you don't normally. Walk down Main Street and you'll find plenty of spa's for your comfort, and some accept walk-ins while others require appointments. Our appointments were scheduled for us by the hotel. Care to quess which toes are mine and which are my daughters?

hanging basket of flowersEverywhere you walk you'll see beautiful flowers, all kinds and more colors then you can count. The walkways, the flower boxes, the downtown, The Riverwalk. Truly gorgeous. Stop and enjoy them. The quaint town of Breckenridge is to be enjoyed and is truly more than "just" a ski town.

poppiesThese beautiful orange Poppies were so pretty they didn't look real to me. Not a house, apartment, condo, or shop is without beautiful flowers!

dream catcher earringsDon't forget to shop for your souvenirs. It's not one tacky t-shirt shop after another; there are some fabulous shops to buy handmade jewelry. Do take advantage of them. Prices seemed very good to me. Bought these fabulous green dream catcher earrings for my daughter. She LOVED them, greens her color.

Indian bead braceletHubby was at a convention the week before we vacationed in Breckenridge and therefore we didn't get to spend our 37th wedding anniversary together. As I admired this bracelet, I suggested it would be a good anniversary gift. lol I love it and wear it often.

pasta dish before firingWe girls found an awesome place to paint pottery while hubby was off playing golf. This is the outside of my pasta bowl before firing. I decided to make it funky so I wouldn't have to worry about straight lines and designs much. You might remember my first attempt at painting pottery was....well, left much to be desired. I felt like my first piece was a first grade level and here I was shooting for 4th or maybe 5th grade. lol Hey, you can't expect miracles right, but it would be a slight improvement.

Here you can see how the colors look after it was fired. Didn't want to pack it, so they packed and shipped for us.
Now darling daughter's got talent. We established that before, remember? She used pouf paints and free handed these fireflies. I think they're cute.
Look at her detail and colors! I've not seen her piece fired as it was shipped to her in STL. As much as we didn't recommend the shop we painted in while in St. Louis; we highly recommend this shop. Ready Paint Fire is located at 323 North Main Street, within walking distance of almost everywhere. Spend the afternoon there. The shop is clean, neat, organized, and quite professional. A wonderful selection. We really enjoyed ourselves and would most definitely return.

The list of things to see and do in Breckenridge is unending. Truly there is something for everyone from those who want to camp, hike, fish, canoe, to those who want to enjoy the scenery, to people traveling with dogs and pets, to those who love the arts. And I've not even yet touched on all the history that exists; but will in a later post.

*** 8-18-10 afternoon and pm---Jan from Animal Talk is on countdown now with surgery scheduled bright an early tomorrow am. She's running last minute errands today to be as ready as possible. I'll post update tomorrow after surgery, and do my best from there forward, until such time she has a live computer again....and or when she's able to sit up and communicate with you all herself. Send good vibs and prayers her way, please.

****UPDATE
AS OF 1:00 PM same day as surgery
Surgery went well, she has metal plates, and 2 metal rods. Based on the testing done during surgery, there didn't appear to be any permanent nerve damage which is great news. Due to being nauseated, she was in recovery a bit longer then expected. When I left the hospital, she was sleeping and obviously in pain. Her husband, my brother and a good friend who's a nurse were with her. We'll go back later when's she's more rested and presumably awake. Do check back, I will update again later.

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Monday, August 16, 2010

Breckenridge, Colorado has a softer side

Breckenridge, Colorado has a softer side, one you might not know about. Yes it's known for skiing, and hiking, and camping, and fishing, and lots of outdoor activities. But, there is indeed a softer side, The Arts are alive and well in Breckenridge.

Take a walk down Main Street or The Riverwalk and you'll see lovely and interesting sculptures all along the way.

Tiki Crane Stance Sculpture
Tiki Crane Stance by Mark Mahorney, carved Beetle Kill Wood
Eye of the Needle Through The Eye of The Needle by Rik Sargent
Story TimeStory Time by Rosalind Cook located at 124 S. Main Street
Ullr, Snow GodUllr The Snow God by Richard Jagoda. The Scandinavian protector of all who participate in winter sports.
Girl FluteGirl Flute by Jane Rankin
3 Cowboys sculpture3 Cowboys "they all agreed, the trail is that way" by Stephen Hanson
Cowboy and HorseCowboy and his horse one view
Cowboy and HorseA second view surrounding by a lovely flower garden. I missed who's piece this is, sorry to say.
Clarity AssemblyClarity Assembly, Marble and Steel by Christophere Hecker
AthenaAthena 1st Violin/Lydia 1st Violin by Michael Adams.

After walking both Main Street and The Riverwalk enjoying the walk and the art; there's still more for you to enjoy. There's The Breckenridge Theatre, The Backstage Center, and The Riverwalk Performing Arts. Something going on all the time. I even got to take in an art festival, briefly as it began to rain; still though I truly enjoyed myself enjoying the softer side of Breckenridge.

***Jan from Animal Talk is on countdown now with surgery scheduled bright an early tomorrow am. She's running last minute errands today to be as ready as possible. I'll post update tomorrow after surgery, and do my best from there forward, until such time she has a life computer again....and or when she's able to sit up and communicate with you all herself. Send good vibs and prayers her way, please.


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Friday, August 13, 2010

The Color Orange and Flat Stanley

**One Lovely Blog Award, click here please**(on going due to technical difficulties)

Flat Stanley here, got your orange crayon? Hope so, follow me please. There are lots of historical place (old places) for you and I to explore together; but this spot is really old. It's been given 3 distinctions. See the round symbol at the top, it tells us This is an Heritage Site for the town of Worthington. I'm pointing to a plaque that says this building has the honor to be listed on The National Register of Historic Places. AND
this plaque tell us it's also honored with an Ohio Historical Marker Plaque! WOW, it hit the jackpot. This building is an old old house. It was once owned by a man named Orange Johnson. See why I wanted you to bring your orange crayon today? Anyway, this house was built way way back in 1811 by Arora Buttles. Hope someone is writing this down so you can determine how old it is by doing some math. (199 years old!). It was purchased by our friend, Orange Johnson in 1816. Orange and his family lived in this house for 45 years. When Orange first came to the village of Worthington he had $16.50. That probably doesn't sound like a lot money to you; but back then it was quite alot. He was 24 years old at the time and was a hornsmith. Do you know what a hornsmith is? I thought it was a funny word so I looked it up and this is what I found: Hornsmith-used animal horn, softened it, flattened it into sheets, clarified it and made tortoise shell combs, buttons, hornbooks. So, our friend Orange made combs and got rich doing it. He sold his combs to lots of people, but specifically 2 brothers from Urbana; The Neil Brothers.
He married Achsa, the daughter of a prominate business man and owner of Worthington Manufacturing Company. He had important contacts in the banking business, political circles, and the lucretive railroad industries. He was invited to Washington for The Presidentail Inauguration of William Henry Harrison. Though he was listed as a farmer in the 1850 census, he was far more then that. He was quite wealthy and involved in banking, railroads, real estate and more. The house changed hands several times and remained vacant and forgotten for a period of time. In fact it was vine covered, abandoned, in a deteriorating state, and thought to be haunted by locals when I first saw this house. Located at 956 North High Street in Worthington next to a frequently visited Dairy Queen it was a house my Mother always wanted to see.

After years of neglect it was purchased by The Worthington Historical Society and restoration began. The house is now opened to the public as a museum that houses 19th century furnishings and a time line of Worthington's developement from being a small pioneer village to it's current day status; as well as it's pre-village history when Native Americans were in abundance.
This beautiful Wisteria is pruned now; but back when the house was vine covered, I believe this is part of what covered it. It spread clear across an arbor in the back. Orange was listed as age 60 in the 1850 census, so was born about 1790 in Connecticut.

Hope you enjoyed meeting my friend Orange. Here's some suggested activities for the kids:
Color an picture using only the orange crayon
Do math using the dates Orange was born, when the house was built, when Orange and his family moved in and 45 (the number of years they lived there).
Find Worthington on the map
Look around your neighborhood and see if you have a neighbor with a Wisteria bush
Make a word puzzle using words from the post
Make your own historical marker....how old is your house?.

See you next week on Friday the 20th. Flat Stanley out.
------------
Previous Fun Friday's with Flat Stanley:

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