Archives West Finding Aid

Dr. John Henry Wilson established the Loyal Order of Moose (LOOM) in 1888 in Louisville, Kentucky. His purpose was to organize a string of social clubs, and by the early 1890s, several lodges existed. Though Dr. Wilson left the order before 1900, and with him most of the membership, two lodges in Indiana continued to meet on a regular basis.

In 1906, James J. Davis joined the Crawfordsville, Indiana Lodge and began to change the organization considerably. Davis transformed the two tiny social clubs into an organization that could provide security and benefits for working class men and their families. By 1912, LOOM boasted more than 1,000 lodges and nearly 500,000 members. The same year, the organization purchased 1,000 acres in northern Illinois and began construction of "Mooseheart" to provide "a home, schooling, and vocational training to children of deceased Moose members." Ten years later, the Order established "Moosehaven," a Florida community for retired members. The family-oriented fraternal organization also recognized the "Women of the Moose" as an official auxiliary in 1913. They more formally organized female membership in the 1920s under the leadership of Katherine Smith. World War II inspired the creation of the Civic Affairs program (renamed Community Service) to provide humanitarian aid and services at the local level. Each of these programs continues to flourish, and membership in LOOM continues to grow.

In Missoula, Montana, the LOOM Lodge #556 was established as early as 1911. Under the direction of Daniel O. Hem, William Kranich and George Freisheimer, the members first met at the Eagle's Hall, 114 W. Main St. The location of the meetings changed from year to year, though were often held at the Labor Temple, 208 E. Main St., where most Missoula fraternal organizations gathered. Between 1943 and 1945, the Lodge purchased its own building at 220 North Stevens (now Ryman Street).

A fire consumed the building on New Year's Eve, 1951, taking the lives of three Missoula firefighters. Slowly, the city and the lodge recovered from the loss. The Moose appealed to other LOOM lodges throughout Montana for help in building a new hall. In 1955, a new Moose Hall was completed at 140 W. Pine in downtown Missoula. There, ample rooms provided space to organize charitable events and hold meetings. The building also contained a social club, which provided much needed revenue and a place to hold special events. The Moose Lodge #556 is still at 140 W. Pine. Members organize social events, sponsor local sports teams, and provide civic services.