Jefferson: Odd fellows out? Oldest fraternal organization clings to existence

Published 12:01 am Monday, August 4, 2003

PORT TOWNSEND — Carson Inman is looking for people who see things differently. In fact, he is looking for people who will stand up and admit they’re a little odd.

Inman is a member of Jefferson County’s oldest active fraternal organization, Mount Baker Lodge No. 9 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

The Mount Baker lodge isn’t the only Peninsula Odd Fellows group having trouble maintaining membership.

The Sequim lodge, with less than a dozen members, is in the same boat as Port Townsend.

The Port Angeles lodge consolidated with the Chimacum lodge in 1999 after not being able to field a quorum.

Chartered in 1877, the lodge dedicated to helping people get through hard times is now itself struggling to survive.

“That’s how they got their name,” said Ray Johnson, a long-time member.

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The rest of the story appears in the Monday Peninsula Daily News.