Ashland Odd Fellows Hall sold
Proceeds benefit local nonprofit organizations
Photo courtesy of James McCarty
THE ASHLAND ODD FELLOWS HALL was recently sold, with proceeds being donated to assist several area non-profits, including the Ashland Ambulance Service which received $14,200 that was used to purchase a Stryker power stretcher.
Pictured for the Aug. 1 presentation, from left, are: William Coulthard, past grand master, Odd Fellows of Maine; Artemas Coffin, district deputy grand master, Odd Fellows of Maine, and noble grand of Mountain View Lodge No. 144 (Ashland); Ken Grant, grand secretary, Odd Fellows of Maine, with his grandson, Austin, sitting on the truck bumper; Pat Long, director, Ashland Ambulance Service; and Mitch Hankin, Stryker technical representative.
By Kathy McCarty
ASHLAND — A lack in membership that resulted in the closing of the Ashland Odd Fellows Hall and its subsequent sale has led to a number of other organizations receiving donations from the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Maine from the proceeds of that transaction.
Photo courtesy of Art Coffin
ASHLAND SCOUTS were the beneficiaries of a generous donation of $2,500 by the Odd Fellows of Maine, following the sale of the Ashland lodge. Pictured in front from left are: Boy Scout Otis Nelson; Cub Scout Graham Berry; Boy Scouts Wyatt Carr, Daniel Rafford, Airin Hamon, Stephen Bellanceau; and Scoutmaster for Troop 179 Linda Milligan. Second row: Artemas Coffin, DDGM IOOF of Maine; Julie Graham-Berry, Cub scoutmaster; Scouts Zachary Carr, Garrett Graham, Malcolm Milligan, Peng Cheng; and Polly Libby, assistant scoutmaster, Troop 179.
“The lodge here in Ashland closed because the numbers of members left — only a few remained. Our title was Mountain View Lodge No. 144, Independent Order of Odd Fellows,” said Art Coffin, district deputy grand master.
Coffin explained how the decision came about to sell the building.
“The lack of membership is why the building, which was built in the mid-’70s after the old hall burned, was sold. The decision to sell was made very quickly between the membership here and the Grand Lodge — a good decision because the building has been remodeled and is being used by Ashland Auto Parts, the new owner,” said Coffin.
Photo courtesy of Art Coffin
GENEROUS DONATION — The sale of the Odd Fellows Hall in Ashland resulted in several generous donations to local non-profit groups, including this check presentation to the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts of Troop 179. Pictured from left are: Polly Libby, assistant scoutmaster, Troop 179; Linda Milligan, scoutmaster, Troop 179; Artemas Coffin, DDGM IOOF of Maine; and Julie Graham-Berry, Cub scoutmaster, Troop 179.
Even in closing, the community-minded organization is continuing to ‘pay it forward,’ helping agencies that, in turn, assist others in a variety of ways — from a library and Boy Scout troop, to the local ambulance service and animal shelter, among others.
“The building sold for $35,000. This was a decision by the membership here and Grand Lodge, located in Auburn. We felt that it was important that a portion of the funds came back to the communities that the membership resided and worked in,” said Coffin. “For many years the lodge was a viable institution. Perhaps these gifts will serve as a tribute to the lodge and its members.”
The money was dispersed as follows:
• Ashland Ambulance received $14,200 for a new stretcher;
• Boy Scout Troop 179 and Cub Pack 179 was presented with $2,500 to benefit Scouts of all ages;
• The Ashland library received $1,000;
• The Aroostook Lodge 88, IOOF, of Caribou, was given $2,000 to assist their lodge;
• Camp NEOFA — a youth camp run by the IOOF — received $2,500;
• The Odd Fellows and Rebekahs home in Auburn was given $5,000;
• The Central Aroostook Humane Society in Presque Isle was presented with a check for $750 to benefit homeless animals; and
• The remainder of funds ($7,050) will be dispersed by the Grand Lodge of Maine, IOOF.
Photo courtesy of Art Coffin
LIBRARY GIFT — Artemas Coffin, DDGM of Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Maine, presents a check for $1,000 to Gladys Craig, librarian, with funds to be used by the Ashland Community Library to benefit patrons.
Coffin was on hand Aug. 1 for the check presentation to the Ashland Ambulance Service. Also present were: William Coulthard, past grand master, Odd Fellows of Maine; Ken Grant, grand secretary, Odd Fellows of Maine; and Mitch Hankin, Stryker technical representative (the company the stretcher was purchased from). The money was used to purchase a new power stretcher that will enable an ambulance crew to lift patients more easily.
“We received a donation in excess of $14,000 to buy a new power stretcher. The Odd Fellows Lodge of Maine sold their building here in Ashland and asked if I had a wish list. I replied with sort of a priority list. It was all down hill after that,” said Pat Long, director of the Ashland Ambulance Service.
Long said the stretcher is greatly appreciated and will make work for his crew much easier, allowing the department to better serve the community.
“The last few members in town wanted to keep the money in town. I (on behalf of the Ambulance Service) received a good portion of it, with some going to various other organizations, including the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts,” said Long, noting without the generous donation, the stretcher would have remained on the wish list indefinitely. “Big-ticket items are hard to come by, given the economy. We’re grateful for the Odd Fellows’ donation.”
