|
|
 |
|
|
|
 . |
Mooseheart-Alum Family Reunites Where It All Began: Jersey Shore, PA Lodge 214!
The Williams Family were reunited with family members and old friends during a visit to Jersey Shore Moose Lodge 214 last October. Pictured in front from left: Richard, Art, Sharon and Linda. Back row: Kenneth, Harold and Dale.
The Williams family with their mother Mary (center) shortly after arriving at Mooseheart in February 1955. Mrs. Williams died in 1968.
> Nearly 50 years after leaving for Mooseheart, the Williams siblings held a reunion at the Moose facility which turned a tragedy into a blessing: Jersey Shore, PA Lodge 214/Chapter 42.
The Williams family hadn’t been back home to Pennsylvania since 1954, when their father, Harold Lee Williams was killed at age 28 in an automobile accident.
Their mother, Mary, wasn’t sure how she was going to support her six school-age children, but she was approached by members of Jersey Shore Lodge, of which her husband had been a member of for less than a year. The Lodge offered to sponsor the children into Mooseheart. Mary gratefully accepted the offer, and the children came to Mooseheart in February 1955. Mary was given a room and a job as a seamstress at Mooseheart while her children lived in various homes on the campus.
Sadly, Mary died in 1968 at the age of 44, while two of the youngest children, Sharon and Art, were still in high school. But members back home were always checking to see how the children were doing.
All children were successful in high school and went on to rewarding careers. They have remained appreciative of what the Moose did for them in helping them live a better life.
The reunion, which was the idea of the siblings and made possible by the Lodge, invited many members of the Williams family, including aunts, uncles, cousins and their spouses to a dinner last Oct. 8 at the Lodge. Before they left, Lodge members presented each of the siblings with a framed copy of a photograph taken 50 years before during a send-off dinner at the Lodge. The Williams family also had a gift for the Lodge: a recent framed photograph of the seven siblings.
Lodge Administrator Robert Confair said the reunion was a success on many fronts. A local newspaper wrote a great article about the reunion, and it showed members firsthand “what the fraternity really stands for.”
|
|
|
Please click on any photograph below to view a larger image.
|
|
Ft. Madison, IA 671/ Chapter 584 Keeps
Parade Tradition
> For nearly 60 years, Fort Madison, IA Lodge 671/Chapter 584 has played a key role in their town’s “4th of July Kiddie Parade,” in which they have handed out treats to generations of children at the close of the parade. Now, the Lodge is playing an even bigger role. In 2003, the local Jaycees (longtime sponsors of the parade) discontinued their local organization. Moose member Andy Andrews, who has been a promoter of the parade since 1969, suggested the Lodge take complete ownership of the parade “where it belongs.” Lodge Administrator Michael Markey agreed, and the parade will live on this summer. The parade was started on July 4, 1913 by the late Charlie Korschgen and a band of neighborhood boys. Charlie assisted with every parade until his death at age 83 in 1966. Korschgen also served on many of the Lodge’s committees in the 1940’s and was known around town as the “Grand Old Man.”
The Lodge’s dedication to the parade is seen during a 1949 parade which features a sign promoting Moosehaven!
|
|
.
With “Charlie’s Drum” are Andrews and Chapter member Skye Lewis. |
Caloosahatchee’s Young ‘Mooseketeers’ a Community Presence
Caloosahatche, FL Lodge 2395/Chapter 1984.
> Caloosahatchee, FL Lodge 2395/Chapter 1984 shows its commitment to our nation’s future with a children’s group affectionately known as “the Mooseketeers.” The group meets every second Saturday of the month for crafts, face painting, games and snacks. The club is economical for cash-strapped parents as well, as its membership fee is only $1. The club does more than just meet at the Lodge, with the children being encouraged to help others out in the community. For example, the children filled over 75 Halloween bags with candy that they passed out to other kids while marching in an annual Columbus Day parade. The children all proudly wore their “Mooseketeer shirts” with Lodge volunteers. According to Family Activities Chairman Bob Ramos, word is getting out about the club with the children and it continues to grow. |
|
. |
Holiday Parties Prove a Hit With Kids of All Ages!
Holiday parties are always a time for families to gather together the the local Moose Lodges.
Finleyville, PA Lodge/Chapter 2084, held their annual Halloween party last October, which was a popular hit with Lodge families. The event included, arts and crafts, and, of course, plenty of candy!
|
|
St. Cloud, MN Chapter 417, with the support of Lodge 1400 have an Easter Breakfast every year on the Sunday before Easter. Among the festivities are door prizes, breakfast food, coloring of the eggs. But it wouldn’t be complete without a visit from the Easter Bunny (aka 16-year-old Mitch Lahr, who is the son of a member) who is holding a happy Kevin Schmidt!
|
Sandwich, IL Lodge 1016/Chapter 1059 Youth Football ‘Super Bowl’ Winners Receive a Visit from a Proud Supreme Governor
> Supreme Governor Don Eisel (center) stopped by Sandwich, IL Lodge 1016/Chapter 1059 last October to congratulate the Lodge sponsored Youth Tackle Football Lightweight team for their championship 10-0 season after they had won the league’s Super Bowl. The all-Moose coaching squad met regularly through the season at the Lodge to plan each victory. To the right of Eisel is his son-in-law Brook McDonald, and below him is Eisel’s grandson Seth McDonald, who played quarterback for the champions. Other Moose-member coaches are (from left) head coach Joe Crotty, Lee Schroeder, Dave Sypien, Bill Jackson and Neil Morsch. The players include Dallas Schroeder, P.J. Crotty, Liam Crotty, Spencer Carlson and Jake Morsch.
[Back to top]
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
May/June/July 2005
