File:Moose Lodge No. 1582 and Auxiliary, 401 East Potomac Street (01).jpg

Brunswick Moose Lodge No. 1582 and Auxiliary, 401 East Potomac Street. Photos by Jerry Knight October 2017

Brunswick lost a treasure this month with the closing of the Moose Club due to financial problems. The closing date was October 23, 2017. Brunswick Moose Lodge No. 1582 and Auxiliary, 401 East Potomac Street. Brunswick Moose Lodge No. 1582 was instituted on November 3, 1923 in the Eagle Hall at Brunswick, Md., with 50 members in the Charter Class. The Eagles Hall at that time was located on West Potomac Street over Swank’s store, which was torn down when the new bridge was build over the Potomac River. The first Board of Officers consisted of D. Moore, Dictator, F.C. Cover, J. N. Barnett, F. M. Troxell, Frank Longbrake, C. W. Stull, and J. W. Nelson. (After Hitler became infamous the title “Dictator” was changed to “Governor”. Meetings were held in the Eagles Hall at the beginning, and later in members’ private homes. The Lodge was moved to the present location, 401 East Potomac Street on December 4, 1942, when the building was purchased from Litten Brothers for $8,5000. There were at this time 67 members and $72 working capital. The new quarters wee furnished with money borrowed from the members. Extensive repairs were made to the building and with the help of lots of “free” labor and hard work, and a debt of $160,000, the renovation was complete in 1948. The mortgage was paid off in 1952. The only remaining Charter Member of the present lodge is Marion Burns, who resides near Jefferson, Md. The 1990 officers are Joe Wiles, Governor; James Sigler, Junior Governor, Delbert Mentzer, Prelate; Jesse Thompson, Secretary; Guy Cunningham, Past Governor; Raymond Thompson, Gary Main, and T. M. Hummer, Trustees. Brunswick Chapter 660 Women of the Moose was instituted on May 12, 1944. They recently celebrated their 45th anniversary with the Charter Members being invited to the Mothers Day Dinner which was held in their honor at the Brunswick Lodge. The remaining Charter Members are Dorothy Ayres , Dorothy Burns, Gladys Merriman, Frances Orrison, Ida Rice, Louise Weddle and Phyllis Yeager. The Moose Lodge and Chapter do much charitable work by donating to the Children at Child City, in Mooseheart in Orange Park, Florida. The women celebrate “Christmas in October” by having a dinner with each member bringing gifts which are sent to the children at Mooseheart and the elderly at Moosehaven. In conjunction with the Lodge, the women sponsor children’s parties at Halloween, Christmas and Easter. At Christmas time, they fix baskets for the needy with donations of canned food from the co-workers and lodge members, with the Chapter donating meat and perishable items. Donations are also made to the Brunswick Fire Company, Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance, Arthritis Foundation, Heart Fund and Cancer Fund, as well as many community projects. As an item of local history, the Moose organization gave Brunswick its first boat ramp on the river beside the bridge pier. Lodge members cleaned the park area to the left of the bridge, and posted signs pointing to the ramp. Mayor Cummings was in office (1954 – 66). Text from Brunswick: 100 Years of Memories, Brunswick History Commission (1990) Photos Jerry Knight