Anamosa - A Reminiscence 1838 - 1988

Michael D. Folkers. Roy H. Folkerts. Marvin W.
Frederick. Laverne L. Fulwider. Darrel G. Geitz. Robert
M. George. Verne H. Goettsch. Donald B. Goodman.
Dale W. Hackett. George T. Hall. Dilon H. Hall. John S.
Hanna. John E. Heiserman. John D. Humpal. Leroy C.
Humpal. Lyle E. James. William L. Jensen. Charles D.
Josifek. Leonard H. Ketelsen. John A. Kloster. Wilson
R. Kouba. Gerhard H. Kray, Larry J. Krull. Joseph E.
Legg. Jr.. Erwin W. Lowe. Gilman F. Lozier. Ben A.
Marlenee. Verne H. McClurg. Milton A. Meeks. Walter
H. Merritt. Donald L. Michels. Raymond O. Miller.
Ronald E. Moyer. Lynn D. Murfield. Nick F. Nassif.
Frank Nelsen. Dale R. Newman. John W. Parham.
Donald F. Parkin. Verner J. Paschal]. Robert A. Peck.
Mount Moriah Chaper 16 of the Order of the Eastern
Star was founded in 1881 as a social organization for
the wives. widows. mothers. daughters and sisters of
Masons.
A charter was granted to the chapter June 2. 1881.
with 35 members. Mrs. Harriet Ercanbrack was the
first Worthy Matron. a position she held for 18 years. In
1889 she was elected High Worthy Grand Treasurer in
the General Grand Chapter. a national post. She held
that position for 25 years. She also served as Worthy
Grand Matron of Iowa.
During World War II. the chapter purchased war
bonds and the members spent many hours in Red Cross
work. They also sent treats to the Veterans’ Hospitals.
A pageant of the first 75 years was written and
presented by Veryle Purcell in 1956 and a special
program commemorating the chapter's 100th
anniversary was enjoyed in 198 1 . under the direction of
Martha Switzer. Worthy Matron.
The chapter has been honored to have several
members appointed to serve Grand Chapter: Martha
Switzer. Leischen Robertson. Bettymae Ketelsen.
Wilma Westphal was appointed Grand Comittee
member.
Mt. Moriah has cooperated with many projects.
including OES Home Fund march: Eastern Star
Training Awards for Religious Leadership. donations of
crutches and other sickroom needs to the Red Cross.
and in 1987 began granting $100 scholarships to two
Past Matrons was organized in 1920 for the purpose
of meeting socially without the duties required of them
while serving as the leaders of the Order of the Eastern
Star.
While meetings were held monthly in the past. they
are now held twice a year. either in the homes of the
members or at the Masonic Temple. Current officers are
Lori Shelton. president: Josephine Russell. vice
president: and Shirley Stelzer. secretary- treasurer.
Order of Eastern Star
Mount Moriah Chapter 16
Order of Eastern Star
Past Matrons
Robert W. Peet. Norman W. Plath. Howard C. Porter.
James E. Porter. George L. Postel. Clellan D. Randolph.
Kenneth K. Rands. Douglas E. Rees. Warren J . Rees.
David M. Remley. Howard M. Remley III. Richard N.
Robertson. Donald S. Ruhl. James W. Scott. Leon E.
Shaffer. Lawrence R. Shaw. Larry A. Shelton. James E.
Shipley. Melvin H. Sievers, Carl A. Stoltz. Verne H.
Stover. William L. Stusak. Richard D. Switzer. Steve A.
Tilton. Teroid T. Tilton. Jesse P. Turner. Fay G. Van
Kirk. Virgil A. Van Kirk. Lewis C. Vernon, George E.
Watters. John L. Westphal. Jon H. Westphal. Julius H.
Westphal. Gary A. Winders. James R. Wink. Ronald E.
Wood. Jay D. Wortman. Harold R. Yeoman. and Harold
W. Zink.
high school seniors.
The chapter met for many years in the third floor of
the Odd Fellows building on Main Street. In 1983 a new
Masonic Temple was constructed on Linn Street.
through a bequest to the Masons by member Charles J .
Tyler and his wife. Golda.
The temple is fully equipped with kitchen facilities.
and Eastern Star members have been serving meals to
pay the rent for their use of the hall. and to help the
Masons pay off the remaining debt on the building.
Current officers are:
Worthy Matron. Josephine Russell
Worthy Patron. Verne McClurg
Associate Matron. Lori Shelton
Associate Patron. Price Slate
Secretary. Leischen Robertson
Treasurer. Martha Slate
Conductress. Wilma DeLancey
Associate Conductress. Evelyn McClurg
Chaplain. Dorothy Murphy
Marshal. Janice Cass
Organist. Phyllis Michels
Adah. JoAnn Walters
Ruth. Marilyn Winders
Ester. Shirley Stelzer
Martha. Helen Hawley
Electa. Bessie Lee Courtney
Warder. Travis Walters
Sentinel. Jim Porter
Members are Ruth Blood. Blanche Brickley. Marjorie
Bowen. Janice Cass. Bessie Courtney. Wilma DeLancy.
Elsie Deyo. Emma Grafft. Helen Hawley. Lelas Heefner.
Phyllis Michels. Margie Moore. Dorothy Murphy. Mary
Postel. Veryle Purcell. Sylvia Ralston. Jo Russell.
Leischen Robertson. Lori Shelton. Martha Slate.
Martha Switzer. Shirley Stelzer. Lucille Tebbe. Wilma
Westphal and Marilyn Winders.
‘Wts;
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