A Little Of The Lodge 259's History

Check us out, take your time, look around, and learn all there is to know about the Odd Fellows Lodi Lodge 259. We hope you enjoy our site. 

Lodi lodge No. 259 was organized May 22, 1877, with fifteen charter members. The first officers were: John Rutan, noble grand; Henry Witte, vice grand; Thomas Russell, recording secretary; Allen T. Ayers, financial secretary, and Ezekiel Lawrence, treasurer. The additional charter members were: Past Grands C. V. Williamson, Morgan Crawford, Howard M. Craig, Samuel Ferdun, Reuben Pixley and John Hutchins. Where the lodge was organized or their place of meeting were not sure. Probably in the Friedberger Building or the new Lodge, that hall being dedicated June 16, 1886. The hall was dedicated by Grand Master C. T. Eachran, assisted by brothers from the Stockton lodges. The ceremony was followed by a splendid program of musical and literary exercises. Then followed a fine supper at the Sargent House given by the Daughters of Rebekah, and the receipts of the supper went towards fitting up the new hall. The New Hall was built on the North West corner of Elm and Sacramento Streets Addressed 101 N. Sacramento Street. The organizing  membership is sixty. William Ennis is the District Deputy Grand Master of District No. 79, which includes Lodi, Woodbridge, Clements, Lockeford and Elliott.   

The 259 in 1890




Lodi's First Ice Cream Parlor Soda Fountain @ The 259

December 17, 1888 Harvey S. Clark, Sr. was appointed Lodi’s Post Master. The Odd Fellows had completed a new two story brick building on the Northwest corner of Elm and Sacramento Streets with Graham’s Drug Store on the first floor and the Lodge on the second. The Odd Fellows dedication was June 15, 1886.

The location of the Post Office remained the same until 1894. Early that year the Post Office moved into the lower north section of the Odd Fellows Building. The next building north contained the Post Office Restaurant, a fixture for many years.


Graham’s was a very popular place for the young and older people of Lodi.

LeRelda and Gladys worked at the fountain for thirteen years. The Ice Cream

Sodas were sold for 10 cents or three for 25 cents.


The 259's Three Lodges




The 259 1900




The 259 About 1905




The 259 1939, 1940




Current Lodge

  The lodge safe houses the original blue prints and contract for our current building, Lodi Lodge 259, 6 South Pleasant Avenue. The drawings incorporated  a total of fifteen sheets. Six architectural sheets, five structural sheets, two plumbing sheets, and two electrical sheets, dated 5-20-49. The building exterior dimensions are 75 feet wide by 130 feet long for a ground floor total of 9750 square feet, with a first and second floor building total of 19100 square feet. The architect is Elmo G. Ernst, 561 E. Harding Way, Stockton, CA. Consulting Engineers Coddington Company, San Francisco, CA. The General Contractor is Nomellini Construction, Stockton, CA. Each sheet of the plans have signed approvals by Boyd Mitchell, Ted Suess, Raymond Karker of the Lodge Hall Association and Dante Nomellini, dated 10-31-49.  

The original contract is attached to the drawings which are stamped not to be removed from the lodge. The contract is between I.O.O.F Lodi Lodge 259 Hall Association and Nomellini Construction date 10-31-49. The construction bid was $100,000.00 with four change orders of $2229.00, Total Contract amount of $97771.00 ($5.12 a Square foot). A construction performance bond was issued by the Hartford Company, it was a two phase bond for $48888.50 each phase, total bond amount of $97777.00. The Attorney in fact was E.R. Snedeker, Notary was A.E. Gianelli Jr. The plans and contract were recorded by John Jinney and Russ Jinney of the Hall Association at the county recorders office.

Ground Breaking ceremonies were held November 6th 1949 with George Kettleman working the shovel, he was initiated  into Lodge 259 on March 17th 1891. The building was dedicated on June 17th 1950. The building was dedicated in honor of Alvin C. Inman  June 4, 2002.

The 259's New Beginning




The 259's Grand Opening




The 259 Today



Store Fronts

The 259 Today

The View From City Hall



The 259's Parking

The South Side



West Side View