100 YEARS: Bradford Moose Lodge 124 celebrates its 100th
birthday this year, having been originally chartered June 20, 1909.
An Era article from 50 years ago provided some history about the
club’s Pine Street building.

Although it’s unknown where the club originally had met, the
article says that in spite of a healthy membership of 300 within
the first year of its existence, the club had only 22 cents in its
treasury, with a debt of ,33.

In 1913, members decided to buy a historic landmark, the Black
Bear, a hotel on Pine Street (where the Moose Club now stands). The
article notes that Ellis Goodman, one of the city’s established
business leaders, helped them out when local banks refused to give
them a loan.

In 1924, a building committee determined that the old Black Bear
building had outworn its usefulness, in spite of having been
extensively remodeled before the Moose Club took it over. Thus, a
new building was in order. “Architecturally,” the article reads,
“the proposed structure, which was designed for any future
expansion needed, compared with the area’s best.”

On Oct. 2, 1927, the new Moose Temple was dedicated.

With the financial crash of 1929, the Bradford Lodge was faced
with an ultimatum to pay off its mortgage in 60 days. The following
five years were “the blackest in the community’s history,” the
article says. But finally, in November 1937, members were able to
burn the mortgage and pay off all of their debts.

“(Nevertheless), a great change had evolved in the country and
the temple,” the article reads. “The temple had been built as a
social quarters for men, but failed to provide facilities for the
many women who sought entertainment with their husbands.”

As a result, a ,35,000 remodeling program took place in 1938-39.
The lodge attained its highest membership of 2,200 in 1946 under
the leadership of Leo W. Ryan, who as “Supreme Governor,” carried
the Bradford Lodge’s name to “hundreds of units in the U.S. and
Canada” during his visits.

The lodge’s future reflected the good economic times until March
11, 1957, when “a disastrous fire gutted the beautiful structure.”
Within five days, the officers drew up plans for rebuilding the
structure – minus the third floor.

“Up from the debris,” the story reads, “a new and modern
structure arose. It was rededicated in March 1958.”