Fred Ende Lodge # 87 - Greenville, TX - Odd Fellow Lodges on Waymarking.com

"Charles Fred Ende was born in Eschwege, Germany. Two years after his arrival in America, Fred Ende sailed for New Orleans, where he arrived in 1847. He later came to Greenville, Texas in 1857 and established a mercantile business on the town square. He became one of the community's most active civic leaders, serving on the school board and city council, and helping to establish the local Odd Fellows lodge. On March 31, 1858 the Fred Ende Odd Fellows Lodge was organized. In 1859, Fred Ende built the Ende-Gaillard house. It is now located in front of the Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum. It is the oldest standing structure in Greenville. In 1880 Greenville had two hotels. In 1881, when the railroad came through, Fred Ende decided to build the first three story brick hotel in Greenville. During the night of April 7, 1883, the Ende Hotel caught on fire and was totally destroyed. Thirteen people lost their lives and twenty-seven miraculously escaped. Soon after that Greenville formed it's first fire Company... and thus was born the "Dick Hubbard Fire Company" the predecessor of the Greenville Texas Fire Department of today. Upon his death in 1897, Brother Ende was buried with full IOOF honors in East Mount Cemetery. Greenville Lodge #87 honored Fred Ende by renaming their lodge after him."