September 20, 2025 had an exciting start at the Volcano Historic Lodge, IOOF in the Gold Rush town of Volcano, California! Approximately 60 Odd Fellows from across the Western United States including myself, Sister Jane Beckman, Brother Charlie Sweeny, & Brother Mason Wolf from True Fellowship Lodge no. 52, IOOF in San José came together to celebrate Odd Fellows history at the unique Volcano fraternal lodge building.
Like many Gold Rush era fraternity halls, it was jointly constructed by the California Odd Fellows & Masons: though what makes it unique is its second-story lodge room, which is unaltered from its late 19th-century trappings. This means there is no electricity in the lodge room: only the antique kerosene & oil lamps to light the room at night. And even during a daytime event like ours the oil lamps remain crucial, for the daylight streaming through the doorways was inadequate illumination for this most interesting of fraternal spaces. The smell of the burning oil added a distinctive olfactory dimension to the experience.
The ceremonies were fascinating – as the Grand Master had procured a set of 1797 rituals for opening an Odd Fellows lodge. The astute among you will note that this predates the Independent Order of Odd Fellows’ founding in 1819: as this is the original ritual from back in England, the country of origin for the Odd Fellows fraternity (and coincidentally, the country of origin for California’s present Grand Master Rita Cooper). I even got to participate in the ritual, in the role of “Grand Treasurer” (surprising exactly no one).
The most interesting insight from the ancient ritual was that it confirmed what I had long suspected: Odd Fellows Lodges were originally laid out following the points of the compass! With the Noble Grand in the East (to distribute their edicts from east to west, as the course of the sun ruling the day), and the Vice Grand in the West (signifying that as they learn their duties as Vice Grand, they travel, like the moon, from the West to the East). The Secretary and the Treasurer were to sit in the North (as their duty is to lend stability to the lodge, like the seven stars of Ursa Major lend stability to the night sky by indicating the unmoving location of Polaris).
After the Volcano Historic Lodge, IOOF meeting, most of the Odd Fellows set off to visit Kit Carson Pass, where some of the first Odd Fellows to enter California crossed the Sierra Nevada mountains. Whereas for Jane & I, we had other rare sites to see, having connected with Masonic Brother Doug Ketron, the Treasurer of Volcano Consolidated Lodge no. 56 Free & Accepted Masons, who could get us access to the fabled “Masonic Cave”.
Brother Doug escorted us out of town, over a small creek bridge, through a locked gate, and over some pastureland to arrive at the Masonic Cave. He shared that the cave was originally on the outskirts of town in the 1850s, with the old main street passing within 100 yards of its opening, making it an ideal location to have tiled lodge meetings, such as those used to organize the Volcano Lodge no. 56, Free & Accepted Masons in 1854.
Brother Doug told us how the promontory in which the Masonic Cave is situated was well known to the town back then, as it was not only where the first Masonic hall was built (which later burned down – prompting the alliance with the Odd Fellows to build the Volcano Fraternal building), the promontory was the source of a major freshwater spring used by the miners. This wellspring ceased in the 1860s when the miners decided to drain the Volcano water table to access deeper gold seams.
The main chamber of the cave later collapsed, which is believed to have been in some way caused by the spring drying out. Since then, the cave has been mostly used for ceremonial purposes (such as the staged photo celebrating the lodge’s anniversary, as seen in period postcard images). The Volcano Lodge still holds events at the site, as they have turned it into the “Secret Masonic Picnic Grounds”. And the picnic area comes with a nice perk, as food and beer can be kept cool in a small adjacent cave, which they appropriately call “Refrigerator Cave”.
Presently, the Volcano Masons own both the Masonic Cave and the historic Volcano Fraternal building. The Odd Fellows relinquished their claim to the building on February 3rd, 1957, when the original Volcano Lodge no. 25, IOOF officially relocated the lodge to the Saratoga Odd Fellows Retirement home (where it remains active to this day).
Thereafter, Jane & I departed in search of an Odd Fellows BBQ being held in the small town of Jenny Lind – a town named after the famed soprano opera singer who had toured the United States in 1850 to rave reviews (it would be like naming a new town “Taylor Swift” today). We soon arrived at Campo Seco Lodge no. 66, IOOF – where for $25 we had some slow-smoked tri-tip (so tender no knife was needed to eat it), along with some excellent beans, corn, coffee, & cupcakes.
Thereafter, I got a tour of the 1905 lodge building from Past Grand Master Fred Dolling (who is also a 32° Freemason). I found out that the lodge was instituted on January 23, 1857 in the town of Campo Seco – and then moved to Jenny Lind on December 6, 1873, as most of the miners had become farmers around the Jenny Lind area after the gold had played out in Campo Seco. The lodge location moved around for about 30 years until it settled on its present location at the end of Main Street on July 23, 1904.
The lodge has, like many fraternal groups, seen a decline in membership over recent years: and yet, the building interior is quite well kept up. PGM Fred explained that he and some other active Odd Fellows orchestrated saving the Campo Seco Lodge some years back. Though their mission of mercy was misunderstood at first, as the Noble Grand thought that this posse of Odd Fellows had come to close the lodge since the chapter had fallen on such hard times.
After clearing up the misunderstanding, the rescue posse deployed its simple, secret recipe to save the lodge: host community meals on a regular, reliable, and recurring basis. Whatever the meal is, deliver food that is consistent and served hot. Start with hosting a breakfast, as that is logistically easiest to successfully deliver on. Once you have a following, you can do something more ambitious, like the BBQ Jane and I attended. Warm food and a wholesome community space recommend themselves: and it was with full bellies this lodge was able to come back from the brink, and continue its mission of Friendship, Love, & Truth.
As Jane & I headed for home, we exited Jenny Lind passing by the IOOF Cemetery – the only cemetery in the area. Its grounds looked well cared for – testifying to community members that still walk its grounds to visit the family plots that were so quaintly decorated.
Whether it is through cemeteries, caves, picnic grounds, or BBQs – fraternities protect these third spaces – separate from work and home – where community exists. These places, events, and people are treasures we need to remember to tend to, where members will find through the act of caring for something greater than themselves the rich reward of being human.
— By Andrew Crockett, TF 52