History of Odd Fellowship in West Virginia

The Grand Lodge of West Virginia, IOOF was established on December 5, 1865.

Odd Fellowship in West Virginia, however is much older than the state itself. The first Lodge in the state of Virginia was Virginia Lodge #1 in Harpers Ferry, VA, which was established on May 18, 1833. Throughout the years, many Lodges in the area now known as West Virginia were established under the jurisdiction of Virginia. 

Following the American Civil War, these Lodges in the new state of West Virginia were basically without a jurisdiction due to the Grand Lodge of the United States, (now known as the Sovereign Grand Lodge), took control of these Lodges during the war. At a special session held in Wheeling, the Grand Lodge of West Virginia was established. All of the Lodges in the new jurisdiction were renumbered except for Virginia Lodge #1. Many of these Lodges are still very active today.

For more information of Odd Fellowship in West Virginia, see the 2011 Special Edition Issue of the West Virginia Odd Fellow Newspaper.

Click here to view or download this issue of the Newspaper