An organization in Erskine recently celebrated a significant milestone.
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) celebrated its 115th anniversary in March.
According to Scott Kruk, one of the order's few remaining members, it isn't known how far back into history the Odd Fellows go, but it is believed to have started in the 1700s.
The Erskine Lodge was founded in March 1910, meaning it has survived two world wars, the Great Depression, and significant other changes to the Canadian landscape over the years.
"It's mostly family keeping it going right now," said Kruk. "Nobody wants to join this kind of organization anymore. They like all the benefits, but don't like joining them."
The IOOF is a fraternal order, which is a group that people voluntarily join and which often have rituals and symbolism similar to secret societies.
"(IOOF) is one of the oldest ones known worldwide," said Kruk. "They're not sure when it started, but it hit the North American Continent in the 1890s. And, I do believe we're either the oldest or the second oldest fraternal organization in North America."
In a follow up note, Kruk confirmed that the first incidence of the IOOF in North America was in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1819.
According to Kruk, Lodges throughout Alberta that started before Erskine's have since fallen to the sidelines as they've lost members. Lodges started after Erskine's have also risen and fallen as well due to lack of membership.
Kruk notes that Halkirk, Stettler, Donalda, and Red Deer have all had lodges in the past, which have since closed due to a lack of members.
"The Grand Lodge isn't what it used to be," said Kruk, referring to the main body of the IOOF in the province.
However, while the Erskine Lodge is still running with around 15 members, it is a far cry from the 60-75 that it used to run with, even back in the 1980s.
"It was quite a thing to see," said Kruk.
These days, the amount of community involvement by the Erskine IOOF has significantly decreased, mainly due to the decrease in members. However, those that remain still host quarterly fundraising suppers, with funds raised being used to keep the Erskine IOOF hall in operation.
The IOOF hall was completed in 1929, and had the original floor for 63 or 64 years says Kruk. The walls and ceiling in the facility have been re-done, and a kitchen and bathrooms were added to the facility in the 1970s.
In addition, the Erskine seniors centre is built on the north side of the building, sharing utilities.
"We used to do a lot more, but we had more money back then. More donations and seemed to raise money easier, but now just trying to pay the gas bills, power bill, and the insurance on that place is pretty horrendous," said Kruk.
The IOOF does get a grant from Stettler County, but it doesn't even cover the insurance for the year, let alone everything else.
IOOF members host a spaghetti supper in the spring, a pancake breakfast around Mother's Day and around Father's Day, and a roast beef supper in the fall.
The March spaghetti supper is usually popular, with around 300 in attendance at the one on March 29. The meals usually generate attendance of around 150-200 people.
Other sources of fundraising for the IOOF include hall rental and working as bartenders when the hall is rented.
Over the years, IOOF Erskine has donated to the Stettler Food Bank, Tailcreek Snowbirds, Erskine Scouts, the Stettler Library, the Erskine United Church, and the Stettler Music Festival, just to name a few.
-Editor's note: This story was changed to update the approximate start year of the IOOF, the first incidence of the order in North America, and reflect that the Mother's and Father's Day meals are pancake breakfasts.
