Between 2018 to 2024, we transformed the Saratoga Odd Fellows Lodge into a vibrant community hub, with a stunning meeting hall, a welcoming social area, and an upstairs deck with French doors that seamlessly blend our indoor and outdoor spaces. We crafted a space that’s both stylish and inviting — creating a lively, enjoyable atmosphere.
Despite the stunning remodel, something felt missing—a deeper connection to the Lodge’s roots. The space was beautiful, but it longed for memory—for echoes of where it all began.
So we turned to the past.
To honor Saratoga’s legacy and the Odd Fellows’ history, we installed an 11-foot black-and-white panorama from a 1900’s photograph (section shown above), showcasing the valley’s vineyards, orchards, and rolling hills. Capturing the landscape a decade before Villa Montalvo’s emergence, it offers a window into our predecessors’ world.
Then came a 1918 Sanborn map of downtown Saratoga, pinpointing the original Odd Fellows Lodge at Lumber Street and Third—now Big Basin Way. More than a map, it’s a quiet testament to where we began and the distance we’ve traveled.
One of the most visually powerful additions was a striking image of Odd Fellows iconography—featuring the triple links, FLT, the all-seeing eye, and the degrees and branches of our Order. With a subtle but meaningful tweak, we replaced the national founding date of 1819 with our own: April 20, 1912. It marks the birth of Saratoga Lodge and affirms our rightful place in the unfolding story.
Our commitment to preserving history came alive at the Saratoga Cool and Classic Car Show, where we awarded the “Awed Car Award” to a 1931 Ford Roadster owned by Brad Renn, whose grandfather and great-uncle were Lodge members by 1915.
How do I know? During the remodel, while clearing out cupboards and closets filled with detritus likely dating back to 1948 (the year we acquired our building from the Saratoga School District for $80), I took time to review our old lodge role books, recognizing many names from Saratoga families that are woven into our town’s fabric.
At our September social, we unveiled a commemorative artwork that honors the founding of Saratoga Odd Fellows Lodge #428 on April 20, 1912. It pays tribute to the Lodge’s original officers and initiates, many of whom were young carpenters and orchardists—builders in every sense. Their names, occupations and age are listed with reverence along with a formal account of their initiation into the First, Second, and Third Degrees of the Odd Fellows Order.
Mind you, our walk of discovery is far from over. A few closets and an attic hold more names, artifacts, and stories waiting to be remembered.
And we’re adding to that legacy in real time. Three current members have all graced the cover of Saratoga Spotlight magazine:
– Caroline Cocciardi, author of Leonardo’s Knots—an exploration into a rarely studied thread of Leonardo da Vinci’s Renaissance brilliance: his intricate knot designs, woven through art, mathematics, and symbolism.
– Steve Anzalone, proprietor of The Black Watch—a Los Gatos landmark stewarded by the Anzalone family since its founding on March 14, 1959. That’s over 66 years of spirited tradition and local legend.
– Lisa Prince Newman, author of For the Love of Apricots: Recipes and Memories of the Santa Clara Valley—a heartfelt tribute to the region’s orchard heritage, blending culinary tradition with personal and historical storytelling.
They will soon be featured on our “Heritage Staircase,” a growing tribute that celebrates both Saratoga’s historic figures and contemporary contributors who continue to shape the Lodge’s story.
With every gathering, new member, and shared moment, we weave another thread into the vibrant tapestry of Saratoga Odd Fellows history, ensuring our legacy endures for generations to come.
— By Neal Casteel, Saratoga 428
