IOOF

Georgetown's IOOF Hall was built as a hotel in 1859 by Joseph Olmstead and known as the Balsar House. Eliza Balsar had purchased a burnt out building and lot following the fire of 1858 and hired Olmstead to construct what was to become one of the most remodeled buildings in Georgetown. The hotel had guest rooms and a restaurant on the ground floor, guest rooms on the second floor and a third-story dance hall.

 

Unfortunately, the business was not successful, and the building was sold twice and remodeled in 1862, when a bookstore and vendor room were added. Historical bronze plaques have been placed on the building by the Native Daughters of the Golden West (1935), E.Clampus Vitus (1979) and the Native Sons of the Golden West.

 

According to the Georgetown Walking Tour brochure, in 1879 Joseph Whiteside bought the structure, removed the top two floors and converted the rest of the building to an opera house. It was another failed business. The hall was then purchased by William Lane and Harmon Sornberger who opened a general store, Wells Fargo stop and post office on the location.

 

In 1889, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows purchased the building and reconstructed a second story, where official “order” meetings are still held. The first floor was used as a public meeting room, church, and funeral parlor. A roof-peak tower housed a bell that rang for mourners, worshippers and fire department emergencies. Confusion over who was being summoned led the bell to be moved to the Georgetown firehouse.

 

The 170 year old hall has received numerous renovations focused on preservation since the late 1980s, primarily through the efforts of Odd Fellow members, spearheaded by Larry Morgan. The list of restorations is extensive. Morgan and Bob Bebout sanded and refinished the wood floors in the main hall of the building in 1987. Leila Mather donated $10,000 in 1988 to have the exterior painted and trim replaced. That same year, repairs were made to the stage which was also extended. Native Sons of the Golden West has been active in helping the Odd Fellows with restoration and improvement efforts on the hall and its outside surroundings. In the 1990s, a concrete sidewalk to the kitchen and a brick sidewalk in front of the building were installed with the funds raised by Odd Fellows, Native Sons, Music On The Divide and the “buy a brick” program.

 

The early 2000s saw active hall improvements. California Conservation Corps members were hired to remove dirt under the floor to accommodate ducting for forced-air heating and support girders; a handicapped accessible bathroom was constructed; custom windows were installed to replace the large, rotten, arched window on the south side of the hall; and the wood floors in the main hall were once again refinished.

 

In 2015, Georgetown Rotary Club provided a grant and installed acoustic panels to the walls of the main hall for sound improvement and the main hall was repainted. Rotary also installed a concrete access ramp and railing for the handicapped, and a rock planter box was added near the access ramp. In 2017, the Oddfellows refinished the floor once again, supported by funds from Geri Teixeira’s BeJazzed class dance-a-thon.

 

2018 -2020 saw a flurry of restorations. The kitchen remodel upgraded the hall to commercial use. The restroom hallway flooring was replaced with updated materials. Morgan and Steve Rubick of Rubick Electric rewired the main hall to codes, and Georgetown Precast and Mel Allen of Smelly Mel’s installed a new septic system. A Native Sons’ grant paid for the complete overhaul of the hall’s exterior with new siding, trim and paint. Labor was provided by the Odd Fellows and Native Sons.

 

So far this decade, Georgetown Rotary has installed a redwood privacy fence and large concrete slab to the backyard area for barbecues and entertainment. The Odd Fellows received a grant to repair the hall’s dining room from the ground up. Repairs included foundation, rebuilding walls to code, replacing dry rot, insulating, installing new windows, adding storage, new roofing and paint, all with labor by the Odd Fellow members. To accommodate power outages, an electric transfer switch was installed for emergency power from the hall’s generator.

 

Last year, the entire metal roof on the main hall was resecured after it was observed that the roofing rippled in the wind. More concrete footings and girders were installed to raise and support the floor in the main hall. Snow damage prompted repairs and replacement of the roof and broken rafters over the hall’s restrooms.

 

Throughout all the past 137 years, due to the Oddfellows’ investment of time and energy, as well as the steadfast support of the community, holiday celebrations, dance and yoga classes, club gatherings, town halls, concerts and memorials, dances and fundraisers all have a home in the grand old Georgetown Oddfellows Hall, Momento 37.