Secret Societies in Curwensville?
A display at the Curwensville-Pike Township Historical Society’s Korb House features items from some of our area’s secret societies. This includes photos of the Curwensville’s Order of the Red Men and an actual Degree of Pochahontas dress (on right). On March 31, Dewey Test will give a talk about these secret organizations at the Curwensville High School Makerspace at 7:00 p.m. (Photo from Curwensville-Pike Township Historical Society Facebook page)
By Julie Rae Rickard
CURWENSVILLE – Imagine going through some of your grandfather’s items and finding a strange ceremonial robe hidden in the back of his closet indicating he was a member of a secret society.
This has happened to many people who had no idea their ancestors were involved in one of many secret societies operating in the early part of the 20th century, even in small towns.
Old paperwork, a few photos and those old robes are all that is left of some of these groups, leaving us with little information on their activities.
Local historian Dewey Test of the Curwensville-Pike Township Historical Society has gathered a bit of information that he will share in a program on these secret societies on Monday, March 31 at the Curwensville High School Makerspace at 7:00 p.m.
Test said he will discuss “a variety of societies that people know the names of, but don’t know much about.”
Among these will be the Loyal Order of Odd Fellows, the Order of Yellow Dogs and a bit about the Ku Klux Klan. The presentation will include photos and documents he has discovered in his research.
Digging into the past can have its drawbacks, he noted.
“You may find something interesting on a scrap of paper that just creates 10 more questions.”
One of the interesting things about some of these groups is that some actually evolved into insurance companies, he explained.
“Members would pay something like 50 cents a month. Then if they had problems the group would give them money back.”
Another important group was Curwensville’s Order of Red Men who dressed in war paint, beautiful feather war bonnets, and genuine Native American costumes during parades, according to the book, Around Curwensville.
Although this would seem to be inappropriate by today’s standards, they had positive ideals such as freedom, brotherhood, friendship and charity.
The group was started by an assembly of Philadelphia men during the War of 1812.
In 1920, there were orders in 46 states and there were over half a million members.
Curwensville was the site of the 10th annual reunion of the Central Pennsylvania Red Men’s association in 1921.
A description of the parade said, “The mile long parade of costumed Red Men and Members of the Degree of Pocahontas, together with a dozen bands, was the largest, most colorful pageant Curwensville has witnessed up until the Susqui-Centennial.”
In nearby New Millport was the Knights of the Golden Eagle, Olanta Castle No. 405. Their motto was fidelity, valor and honor. Founded in 1873, its rituals were based on the crusades.
The Curwensville Historical Society has other programs and events scheduled for this year.
On April 14th, Anna Whitaker will give a talk on woolen mills at 7:00 p.m. at the Curwensville High School Makerspace.
There are two Walking Tours of Curwensville with Hildred Rowles scheduled
this year. The first is on June 22 and the other on Sept. 14. The walks begin at the Curwensville VFW at 19 River Street at 1:00 p.m.
Plans are also being made for a Spirit Walking Tour in November.
The group is always involved with the Home for the Holidays celebration in town
which will be Nov. 20, 21 and 22. One of their fundraisers is their annual soup sale on Nov. 22.
Last year, their first Cookie Walk was a big success and will be held on Dec. 13 during the Christmas in Curwensville event that starts Dec. 11.
If you want to discover more of the history of Curwensville, the society’s Korb House Museum at 836 State Street opens June 1 and will be open every Sunday from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. during the summer except for July 6 and Aug. 31.
The Curwensville-Pike Township Historical Society was the idea of a 14-year-old local youth, William“Smokey” Osborn. It was formed in March of 1978 after he reached out to community leaders on the need for this type of organization, according to their website.
In the Fall of 1989, The Korb House was donated by E. Furman Korb a family member of the late Mildred Korb Houser.
For more information on the historical society and how to become a member
check out their Facebook page or their website, curwensvilleareahistoricalsociety.org.