See other IOOF lodges in CA

A long history and still going...

Oustomah Lodge No. 16, I.O.O.F., was instituted at Nevada City, November 4, 1853. The lodge grew out of an informal association of Odd Fellows that was organized for mutual relief and social gathering in 1851, meeting in a little log cabin.

The lodge had a handsomely furnished hall (the first brick building in the county on Broad Street, second lot east of the northeast corner of Broad & Pine Streets), which was lost in the great fire of 1856.

After the fire in 1856, during which time the Odd fellows shared a new building with the Masons (2-story brick building, northeast corner of Broad & Pine Streets). During the period of six years, built up its funds toward a new building, what with paying hundreds of dollars each year in support of sick and disabled members, and several widows and orphans.

In March of 1862, the Odd Fellows finally purchased a lot for $1,000 (east of the National Exchange Hotel). The new building was built and fitted up, at the expense of $14,000 in February, 1863, but this building also passed away in the fire, November 8, 1863, only the charter was saved.

By this time it took eight years to face up to the large commitment of a new building. In August of 1871, the Odd fellows purchased a one-story brick building for $2,000, with a long history. In the mean time there were a couple other brick buildings were being built. One of these buildings was like the Latham's Building in Sacramento, the front to be oil mastic, ornamented cornice and molding, and the walls were very heavy. The iron shutters are to be nearly one-fourth of an inch thick.

While these other brick buildings being built, Oustomah Lodge came up with the following financial maneuver: The five Trustees of the lodge, Charles Marsh ( the principal organizer of South Yuba Canal and Water Co., which became the present Nevada Irrigation District), John W. Hinds, Jonathan Clark, Halstead Stansfield and Andrew H. Parker organized a Corporation named "The Odd Fellows' Hall Association" with the stated purpose "to buy a lot and build a Hall" with Capital Stock of $15,000 - 300 shares at $50 each - for a term of fifty years, dating from May 1, 1872. On May 20, Oustomah Lodge recorded a deed transferring full ownership of Lot 4, Block 16, "known as the Head property" to the Odd fellows Hall Assn. The Lodge started the ball rolling by buying 40 shares of the stock for $2,000, and presumably some members of the lodge and friends of the Order subscribed to the rest of the Capital Stock. At any rate, bids had already been signed and contracts let, so from here on lets take the story from the original pages of the "Nevada Daily Transcript". From Mar. 19, 1872 through Apr. 26, 1863 the construction and Celebration were noted in the Nevada Daily Transcript.

April 26, 1873 the Celebration of the 54th Anniversary of the I.O.O.F. in America, and the Dedication of the New Odd Fellows Hall in Nevada City. There was a Procession that marched down Broad Street to the Plaza, up Main to Commercial to Pine, along Pine to Broad, up Broad to the junction of East and West Broad, then counter-marched down Broad to the Hall, and passed into the Hall for The Dedication. The hall was crowded and many were unable to gain admittance. There were, however, over three hundred people in the hall.

April 26, 1973 the Odd Fellows Building 2251/2 Broad Street, Nevada City celebrated 100 years. Our Order has been in Nevada City for 145 years and 125 years in our present building. Our building has been restored over the years and is in beautiful condition.

Oustomah Lodge No. 16 meets the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, Neva Rebekah Lodge No.119 meets 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, and Mistletoe Historical Encampment and Ladies Encampment Auxiliary No. 47 meet the 2nd Friday of the month.

The Miner's Foundry, Nevada City

The Saint Joseph's Cultural Center, Grass Valley

Other Websites

YubaNet Community Website for the Gold Country

U.S. Census bureau statistics on Nevada County