Livermore Heritage Guild “Help Save Yesterday For Tomorrow” P.O. Box 961, Livermore, Ca. 94551 WWW.lhg.org Phone (925) 449-9927 Sept/Oct 2005 Vol. XXXIV No. 6 Foresters of America, Livermore Court #77 1745, a group was formed at Knarsborough Castle in By Larry Mauch England called the “Royal Foresters”. They claimed In August of 1892, the “Independent Order of Foresters” their origins went back to Robin Hood. In 1834, a and the “Ancient Order of Foresters of America” were convention was held at Rochdale, England and the both in Livermore soliciting members for their name was changed to “The Ancient Order of Foresters”. respective organizations. Both organizations attributed At the time, Court #1 was formed in England. Sometime their roots to Robin Hood and the Ancient Order of later, a court was formed in Philadelphia, Pa; the Foresters in England. The Independent Order of “Court of Good Speed, Court #201” which claimed its Foresters, today known only as the “Foresters”, was origins went back to the 1830’s in the United States. promoting insurance as a major benefit of membership Several other “Ancient Order of Foresters” courts are in their organization; purchasing a policy was documented in the 1840’s in the United States (New mandatory. The Ancient Order of Foresters of America, York and Boston). It appears most of the courts in the today known as the “Foresters of America”, was United States were abandoned by the time of the Civil promoting the traditions of the Foresters of England War. In 1864, Court Brooklyn #4421 in New York and and their commitment to “Unity, Benevolence and one other court existed. Court Brooklyn is credited as Concord” and their pledge to “Promote virtue, increase the foundation from which the “Ancient Order of knowledge and to inculcate upon the minds of those Foresters of America” was built. By 1874 all United who enjoy the privileges and the duties required of States Courts were still sanctioned from England. them as Ancient Foresters.” An optional plan, for those Alonzo Caldwell, a member of the New York Court, that chose to participate, used the monthly contributions started a movement within the organization to become of the participants to provide financial assistance in independent from England. Mr. Caldwell asked all times of need as well as provide assistance with burial interested parties to assemble at a meeting in New expenses. Jersey. In 1874, a new group was formed in New Jersey Brief History of the Early Foresters calling itself the “Independent Order of Foresters”. The early history of the Foresters in England is somewhat They were completely independent from England and sketchy. Robin Hood is as much myth as truth. Best the remaining United States Courts, but still built upon guess is he lived from 1160 to 1247. In November of the tradition and followed the organizational structure Above: Upstairs lodge room before furniture was removed Above: Main stairway looking upstairs Right: Downstairs lobby with tile floor of the Ancient Order of Foresters. This is the group that to the government under which we live.” The is known only as the “Foresters” today. The remaining membership requirements were: males between 16 & “Ancient Order of Foresters” courts in the United 50 years of age with good moral character, sound in States were still bound to the English courts. In 1889 health and limb; must be a believer in the Supreme these courts would also break away from England and Being and reside in the state for at least three months. rename themselves the “Ancient Order of Foresters of The purpose of the organization was the mutual America”. Since 1889 there has been no affiliation protection and assistance of its members in sickness with the English Ancient Order of Foresters except and distress, the burial of members, and the relief of through a common heritage. However today, there are relatives who were not provided for by the decease of “Forester” organizations, (formerly Independent Order a member. of Foresters) in England. Their steady growth is The Foresters Masque Ball attributed primarily to the fact the “Foresters” has In May 1893, the Livermore Court #77 held an Old become a large business selling insurance, growing Clothes Ball at the Farmers Union Hotel. By 1895 the through acquisitions and mergers. To confuse things ball had transformed itself into a New Years Eve even more, today in the United States there are groups Masque Ball. The Foresters Masque New Years Eve called the “Consulting Foresters of America” and the Ball was a huge event in Livermore. On Dec 31, 1900 “Society of American Foresters”; which are the electric street lights in town were lit all night in organizations for professional Foresters concerned with celebration of the Foresters Masque Ball. The highlight the practice of Forestry. Now that you are totally of the 1901 masque ball was the showing of short confused lets get back to Livermore. moving pictures before the festivities began, the first “Ancient Order of Foresters of America” ever shown in Livermore. The 1930 masque ball had On August 10th 1892 The Ancient Order of Foresters of 600 people attend. Considering the population of America, Court Livermore #77 was formed. Among Livermore in 1930 was about 3500 people, that would the founding members were H.D. Mendenhall and be comparable to a turnout of 15,000 people if such an D.A. Smith, future Town Marshall and Col. in event were held in town today. The ball would be held Livermore’s Company I. The Independent Order of annually until 1941 and the outbreak of WWII. Foresters would wait another six years, until March Membership Grows 1898 to form a group in Livermore and it would only In 1895 the Ancient Order of Foresters of America last until April of 1900. (A.O.F. of A.) became the Foresters of America (F. of Membership A.). In 1899 there was talk of building a lodge hall with In late 1880’s, the Ancient Order of Foresters in England a theater, but it didn’t materialize. In 1901 there were dropped the term “White” from its membership a total of 110 members. That same year in Livermore, requirements. At a meeting in Detroit it was voted to the “Companions of the Forest” was formed, a separate keep the term in the membership requirements in the women’s group. By 1902 Pleasanton’s Foresters Court United States; this was one of the reasons the last Alisal #108 had formed and they were looking into remaining Foresters in this country broke away from acquiring trees from Sherwood Forest in England to England. It would not be until the 1940’s that the term plant in Pleasanton. In February 1902, the Livermore was finally dropped from membership requirements Foresters traveled to Pleasanton to help plant trees here. By the 1940’s the by-laws stated the intent of the from Sherwood Forest in McKinley Park. The organization is to “embrace the world within its membership in Livermore was continually growing. In jurisdiction, but more particularly that of the American 1910 Maitland Henry, editor of the local paper, joined Continent and to disseminate the cardinal principles of the Foresters and in 1913 George Tubbs, a future the order—Liberty, Unity, Benevolence and Concord: Mayor of Livermore, became a member. In January tolerance in religion, obedience to the laws, and loyalty 1912 the Livermore Foresters paid $.56 tax per head on 254 members to the Foresters of America, Grand Court connecting to the public lobby space, the Foresters will of California, located in San Francisco. have their lodge room, ante-room and locker room, Foresters Hall while at the south end of the building and at the front, In February 1914 the Livermore Foresters announced connecting conveniently with the public lobby space, they were going to build a two story meeting hall on will be a ball room, with a cloak room, ladies parlor, land they acquired on J Street. A building committee lavatories and a kitchen. The lodge room and ball room was formed by Livermore’s Chief Ranger Jean Valponi are finished with high wainscoting of elm panels and consisting of Wm Reese, M.G. Callaghan, J.J. with plaster cove ceiling and beams, with a maple floor Callaghan, F. C. Lassen, George Beck and A.M. Bowles. in the ball room. The lighting fixtures have been Later it was announced Henry H. Meyers would be the carefully selected and are of the semi-indirect type, so architect and C.H. Rasmussen would be the contractor. that there is no unpleasant glow from the lamps. The Both were well known in Livermore and had successful building has been very well constructed and should careers. Henry Meyers, formerly of Livermore, had a prove a satisfactory home for Court Livermore.” successful architectural business in San Francisco and Mr. Rasmussen had already built 73 structures in town, At 1:30pm that day the cornerstone was set with a time although this was to be his largest to date. The cost for capsule. The metal case contained copies of the construction was estimated at $15,300. Livermore Herald, Livermore Echo, San Francisco Chronicle and the Forester’s Review. Also included On December 19, 1914 the local paper announced the was a list of charter members of the court, copies of the dedication to be held that day and included a description constitution and bylaws, a list of present officers of the of the building. court, a copy of the resolution authorizing the appointment of the building committee and “The Foresters building to be dedicated today is a two authorization to proceed with the building and a list of story structure covering a lot 50 x 100 at the Northwest committee members.