The Jackson Odd Fellows provided the funding for the decorative sign located off Highway 49 at Drytown. From left to right: Tim Voss, Nancy Voss, Bill Briggs, Suzanne Scoleri, Robert Sinclair and Barry Prock. Photo by: Courtesy to the Ledger Dispatch

The Jackson Lodge No. 36 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, a worldwide fraternity, celebrates its sesquicentennial this month. Chartered on March 26, 1855, the Jackson Lodge moved into 10 Main St. on Oct. 2, 1873, where they still meet today on the second and fourth Thursday of each month. The building housing the Lodge Hall was at one time the tallest three-story building west of the Mississippi.

The name of the order originated in England in the 17th century when it was considered odd to find people organized for the purpose of giving aid to those in need and pursuing projects for the benefit of all mankind. The objective of the order is to elevate the character of mankind by promoting benevolence and charity. The Order was founded on the North American Continent in 1819. On Sept. 9, 1849, one year to the day before California was admitted to the union as the 31st state, California Lodge No. 1 came into being, in the city of San Francisco.

The emblem of the I.O.O.F. is three links with the first letter of each word of the motto "Friendship, Love and Truth" inside the links. Because of the emblem, the Odd Fellows are sometimes referred to as the Three Links Fraternity. The Three Links are featured on a decorative sign located off Highway 49 at Drytown. The metal sign was designed and constructed by a local artist, Jim Plamondon of Sutter Creek, to commemorate Amador County's sesquicentennial. The Three Links were added to the sculpture after the Jackson Odd Fellows provided the funding for the project. Because of the Odd Fellows' underlying principle of doing good work for its own sake and not for recognition, most people do not recognize the emblem of the organization.

Many people are also unfamiliar with the philanthropic efforts of I.O.O.F. Fund-raising to benefit medical support and research for arthritis, diseases of the eye and heart disease make up a large part of the philanthropic efforts of the Odd Fellows. The Odd Fellows Lodges of California support two senior residential facilities: The Odd Fellows Home in Saratoga, established in 1912 and The Meadows of Napa. The facilities offer senior housing ranging from independent living to assisted living and skilled nursing facilities.

For nearly 100 years, the Odd Fellow-Rebekah Children's Home of California, located in Gilroy, has been serving the needs of children unable to remain in their own homes. Residential treatment and foster care for seriously abused children is at the core of the Home's current services. The California Odd Fellows also offer a summer camping program for children at the Three Link Camp in Tuolumne County. This camp also provides year round recreation, camping and RV facilities. Other recreation areas include Odd Fellows Sierra Park, Odd Fellows Russian River Park and Redding Odd Fellows Camp in Shasta County. The Russian River and Redding facilities require membership in the Order.

California Odd Fellows are involved in promoting education through scholarships and student loan programs. In addition to this, Odd Fellows are the only fraternal order to have a Youth Pilgrimage to the United Nations each year. The only Fraternal Order privileged and allowed to place a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington D.C. at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is The Odd Fellows.

Future plans for the Jackson Lodge include renovating the local I.O.O.F. building and participating in more public events. Membership is by invitation, but interested parties are invited to contact the lodge more information. The Jackson Lodge will be celebrating their sesquicentennial, along with Jack Campbell's 50 years of membership, at a private dinner to be held next month.

The Jackson Lodge No. 36 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows is located at 10 Main Street in Jackson. Call 223-4077 for more information.