St. Luke and Odd Fellows Hall Before and After Renovation

Around 1965-70 the organizations that owned the SLOFH had lost membership and were no longer meeting regularly.  Two reasons for the decline in membership were that mutual aid societies were no longer important as social legislation such as social security met the need.  Also, the popularity of mutual aid societies as well as high ritualized declined.  The two together along with road construction greatly reduced the appeal of New Town as a neighborhood; gradually the housed began to deteriorate and young people moved where they could find more and better employment.

However, many who lived and visited New Town and the events at the SLOFH have very fond memories of the times when New Town was many things to Black people: social center, respite from Jim Crow, symbol of self-reliance, and a place to have a good time.

Take a look at the pictures of the SLOFH and visualize it as a vibrant, happy, meeting place.  What must it have looked like?  What kind of events do you think would be held in the SLOFH?  Does the building itself tell you what the men and women who build the SLOFH were thinking?

Listen to the words of people who lived and visited New Town.  How would you describe this neighborhood?  Why do you think so many have such fond memories?

OddfellowsHall_Picture.jpg
St. Luke Hall.jpg
OF 2000s.jpg
OF inside door.jpg
OF Black and white.jpg
OF Black and White 2.jpg
OF Black and White 3.jpg
OF stage.jpg
OF inside later.jpg
OF old Fridge.jpg
OF Clean Stage.jpg
OF broken wall.jpg
OF lightbulb.jpg
OF phone.jpg
OF after shot.jpg
St. Luke and Odd Fellows Hall Before and After Renovation