The History of Mooseheart Child City and School

Sellersville Moose Family Center #1539 Women of the Moose Chapter #471 Serving our Members and Community Editor: Harry Ricker Asst. Editor: Chris Perry May/June 2009 Issue #13 The History of Mooseheart Child City and School The history of Mooseheart Child City & School is inextricably intertwined with that of the Loyal Order of Moose and the Women of the Moose, two organizations whose stupendous growth during the first quarter of the 20th century was inspired by the idea of creating this beautiful home and community for children in need. James J. Davis – who later would serve as Secretary of Labor to three Presidents, then 14 years in the U.S. Senate – agreed late in 1906 to take on the job of recruiting members into the then-faltering Moose organization, on the basis of eventually using members’ pooled resources to create a home and school where dependent widows of Moose members could take their children. Within five years – by late 1911 – the organization had grown to membership of nearly 200,000, and Davis, now carrying the title “Director General,” recommended that Moose leaders begin seeking the right parcel of real estate to set about establishing the so-called “Moose Institute.” The decision was ratified by the Convention, and once it became generally known, property offers swiftly came in from various parts of the United States. For an entire week in December 1911, a joint meeting of the Moose Supreme Council and newly-appointed Trustees of the Moose Institute met at the Willard Hotel in Washington to closely examine all offers. During these meetings and a number of subsequent ones, the leaders decided that the home and school should be located somewhere near the center of North American population, preferably adjacent to both rail transportation and a river, with fertile soil for farming, and within a day’s transportation to and from a major city. These conditions ruled out many potential sites. Finally, on Dec. 14, 1912, the leaders decided to purchase a 750-acre dairy operation known as Brookline Farm (near the western bank of the Fox River and two rail lines, 40 miles west of Chicago), plus adjacent acreage to the west and north owned by two other families—1,023 acres in total, Negotiations with all parties took place in January and February 1913, with final purchase expense totaling $264,000, and legal possession taken March 1. At that point, the place already had a name: a Feb. 1 joint meeting of the Supreme Council and Institute Trustees unanimously approved Congressman John J. Lentz’s proposal to name the new home and school “Mooseheart.” Dedication of Mooseheart was set for Sunday, July 27, 1913—the day before the opening of the 25th International Convention in Cincinnati. Thomas Marshall, then newly installed as Vice President of the United States, first balked at Supreme Governor Ralph Donges’s invitation to speak at a ceremony for what he viewed as an “orphanage.” Donges responded that “what we are planning will not be an orphanage at all. It will be a home and school for the children of our deceased members. On its dedication day Mooseheart featured a large farmhouse dubbed Aid Hall, a few other ramshackle buildings, and a huge circus tent rented from Ringling Bros. for the occasion, to shield the gathering from the summer sun. Most importantly, there were 11 children present who would be the first to call Mooseheart home—the vanguard for more than 11,000 more who have lived and learned over more than 90 years at the Child City. Vice President Marshall, in his July 27 remarks, said: “Thank God, here in this Middle West, here on this most sacred day, humanity has again proved its right to be called the children of the Most High; has again reached out its hand in love and loyalty to the needy brother, and has disclosed not only the right, but the duty of this great Order to exist.” In August 1913, Supreme Secretary Rodney Brandon moved from Anderson, IN, where Moose headquarters had been located, to Mooseheart, to serve as the community’s first Superintendent. He brought with him Dr. J. A. Rondthaler, a Presbyterian minister and former college professor, whom as Dean took charge of students’ home life and schooling. Under Brandon’s direction, the future design of Mooseheart began to take shape. James A. Young, city forester for nearby Aurora and owner of a nursery there, contributed landscape design services on a part-time basis. It was Young who also drew basic plans for a Mooseheart street layout, which he made roughly in the shape of a stylized heart. Robert Havlik, a young civil engineer from Detroit, was hired in November 1913 to handle all construction of streets, utilities and permanent buildings. Brandon also rehired R.R. Luman, who had served as farm superintendent for Brookline’s previous owner. An Aurora physician was retained on a part-time basis to oversee an on-campus nurse and administer to health needs. The pace of construction was feverish throughout Mooseheart’s first 10 years, but especially its first five. The current U.S. Post Office building (which then was also a railroad station and Mooseheart offices) was begun before the end of 1913. A complete water and sewer system was installed during the spring and summer of 1914, along with a coal-fired heating plant and steam lines. Rail carloads of elm trees were planted on the residential portion of the mostly bare campus (Many had to be replanted with other species 40 years later, when Dutch elm disease struck throughout the Midwest). A major boys’ dormitory, Loyalty Hall, and girls’ dormitory, Purity Hall (now Minnesota Home) were both built in 1914. Sixteen other buildings – residential and vocational structures, and a new school building – were completed between 1915 and 1918. The massive Administration/Auditorium Building, named for former President Theodore Roosevelt, was completed in 1918 and after having been begun in 1914. Cont. Page 5 A Message from the Governor From the Desk of the Administrator With spring here, you will start to see some Men and Women of the Moose, improvements in the James Eshleman Memorial Park. Over the last year and a half our Lodge’s This being my 1st message as Governor, I Moose Legion Activity Committee has been thought it might be nice to give you a little raising funds for the replacement of the wooden background on myself. I joined the Moose st fence. This fence will be replaced with PVC Fraternity in 2003 and took my 1 position fencing and the building will all be getting a fresh in 2005 on the board as a Trustee, which I coat of paint. The Moose L.A.C. is very active in held for 2 years. In 2007 I became the Jr. raising funds for projects around our Lodge. Governor and in 2008 the Treasurer. I Please ask a member how you can become a hoped with learning as many different Moose Legionnaire. offices as I could, this would help me in serving you as your Governor. I thought I In this economy our Lodge is facing tough times. might do something different with my The new officers are faced with offering more message by telling you about some of the family activities that they hope we all will attend. The Lodge can only get better with your great programs the Moose Fraternity has participation. There is a suggestion box on the to offer our MEMBERS. There is a Youth table just before you enter the dining room. Awareness Program for Students from Please feel free to give us your suggestions. grades 8-11. This scholarship program offers a chance for your son or daughter to Do you have kids or grandkids that are high win money for college. Moose Inter- school age? Are you in need of scholarship national gives away 5 scholarships a year: money? We can help. How does up to $12,000 in 1st place $12,000, 2nd place $8,000, 3rd scholarship money sound. The Loyal Order of the place $5,000, 4th place $3,000 and 5th place Moose has funds from $1000 to $12,000 in $2,000. This is not an easy program by any scholarships to give away in the youth means, but it is not a hard program if you awareness program. The kids in this program talk are willing to do a little work with your with kids from 4 to 9 years of age about drugs and alcohol. They encourage the kids to make child. The program is based on Moose wise and healthy choices in life. If you have or Kids Talks. Your child gives talks to kids know a young person who would like to from ages 4-9 years to empower them to participate, please have them call me or the make healthy choices and resist danger. Governor for more info. This is just the tip of the iceberg. For all the information please log onto Moose In closing thank you for being a member in the Internationals website (mooseintl.org), log greatest family fraternity. into the member section and on the right side go to community service tab. This is a Fraternally Yours, great opportunity for your child. Last year Phil Febus Kelly Pierce of Stroudsburg Lodge 1336 Administrator won a $3,000 scholarship. You can go onto the Pa Moose website at (pamoose.org) to read about Kelly. This is just one of many programs they offer, so look for another great program in my next message.

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