I.O.O.F. Barnum Lodge No. 7 - Corvallis, OR - Odd Fellow Lodges on Waymarking.com

We've been with Corvallis almost from the beginning. Corvallis was incorporated in 1857 in the United States Territory of Oregon. Corvallis had served as the territorial capitol and the county seat before it was even incorporated!

By 1860 the census showed 531 residents, but some say the population at incorporation was closer to three hundred. Fraternal organizations were a major feature of significant communities in the last century. A friendly rivalry ensued between the eighteen charter-member Freemasons and the eighteen charter-member Odd Fellows on which would be the first fraternal Lodge in Corvallis. The two groups pursued their parallel goals in tough times. The early flash of prosperity from mining and military had fizzled out.
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For what work could be had, a six-hour workday earned a carpenter five dollars, and for unskilled labor half that. It was in these circumstances that the charter brothers put forward their funds to found Barnum Lodge No. 7.
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Barnum Lodge No. 7 was chartered on February 23, 1858. Corvallis's Odd Fellows Lodge was named for Eli M. Barnum, an energetic officer of the new Grand Lodge of Oregon. Its number seven indicates it was the seventh in Oregon. Six Lodges were in place in other Oregon cities along the settlement trail: Salem, Milwaukie, Oregon City, Albany, The Dalles, and Dallas. Only this last Lodge has succumbed to time (1989).The Odd Fellows and the Masons were the two Lodges capable of building Lodge Halls. The Odd Fellows did not do so, concentrating first on acquiring a cemetery (the I.O.O.F. Pioneer Cemetery of Corvallis) in 1863. The Masons built their first hall, and for a while Barnum Lodge No. 7 rented meeting space there. This first building was destroyed by fire in 1869.

A.W. Bowersox is to date the Barnum Lodge Past Grand that has gone the furthest in service to the Order. Brother Bowersox was elected Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Oregon at its fifty-seventh session (1912) and Grand Representative (of Oregon to Sovereign Grand lodge} at the 58th session (served 1912-1914). Many souvenirs of his attendance at many Grand Lodge and Sovereign Grand Lodge sessions are treasures of the Lodge. The most significant of these are framed and hang in a place of honor in the Lodge Room.Barnum Lodge Number Seven has been the host Lodge for Grand Lodge sessions five times: in 1863, 1931, 1940, 1958, and 1968.

A historical walking tour website contains a page devoted to the Kline Department Store Building and mentions the history of the I.O.O.F. Barnum Lodge No. 7 and their connection to this historical building and it reads:

... Various businesses have occupied the lower floor of the Kline building since Millers moved out. Western Auto and Firestone were long-term occupants. The 16-lane Bowling Gardens was on the upper floor until Barnum Lodge No. 7 became the second floor occupants in 1956. The Order bought the Fisher building on the south, also for lodge purposes, at the same time. Both buildings were purchased from T.J. Starker, wealthy Corvallis area timberman. The lodge kept two bowling lanes for their Lodge Hall and remodeled the upper floors of both buildings for a Lodge Hall with dining area, kitchen, rest rooms and recreation room with pool and card tables. Barnum Lodge No. 7, Independent Order of Oddfellows, is one of the oldest fraternal lodges in Corvallis. The lodge was instituted on January 29, 1858.