History of Oakland County Michigan a narrative account of its historic progress, its people, its principal interests / compiled from the official records of the county, the newspapers and data of personal interviews, under the editorial supervision of Thaddeus D. Seeley.

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HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY

ROYAL OAK SOCIETIES
In January, I9II, a number of Masons formed a corporation to be
known as the Royal Oak Masonic Temple Association, and purchased a
building which was converted into a Masonic Temple. The building is
beautifully located on fine grounds consisting of six large lots at the
corner of Fourth and William streets. They then proceeded to form a
lodge. Birmingham released jurisdiction of the territory and granted
twenty-six members certificates of permission to aid in promoting the
new lodge, and on May Ioth of that year the Grand Lodge granted them
a dispensation under which they are now working, and it is expected that
the charter will be granted at the annual meeting on May 28, I912. The
following officers were chosen: Charles Hoodless, worthy master; Louis
A. Rickard, senior warden; John C. Mow, junior warden; Charles A.
Crane, secretary; and Harry R. Brace, treasurer.
Soon after the organization of the Royal Oak Masonic Temple Association, active measures were taken by the 0. E. S. members residing
in the village of Royal Oak to form a chapter, and on March 22, 1911,
twenty-six members who had petitioned for a dispensation met the grand
officers, Worthy Grand Matron Lizzie A. Harrison and Worthy Grand
Patron John Rowson, who granted them a dispensation and installed the
officers, with Nellie Blair, as worthy matron, and Maurice R. Blair, as
worthy patron. Twenty-nine members were added between the granting
of the dispensation and the charter, which was obtained on December 13,
9I I, being presented by Grand Worthy Matron Emma C. Boice, and the
present officers installed: Nellie Blair, worthy matron; James M. McVicar, worthy patron; Minnie Anderson, associate matron; Della Seigman, conductress; Lizzie McVicar, associate conductress; Marie Clark,
secretary; Catherine Erb, treasurer; Dora Lamb, Adah, Bertha Robbins, Ruth; Lettie Russell, Esther; Pearl Lamb, Martha; Annie Harvey, Electa; Louisa Patterson, chaplain; Flora Allen, marshal; Julia
Lakie, organist; Belle Welch, warder; Charles A. Allen, sentinel. The
present membership of the chapter is 60.
Royal Oak Lodge No. 424, I. O. O. F., was instituted March 3, I892,
by Grand Master John Northwood. The first elective officers were as
follows: Gilbert M. Newton, noble grand; Frank Norton, vice grand;
Thomas Bruce, recording secretary; John Tillotson, financial secretary;
George Geddis, treasurer; Richard Rose, P. G.
The present officers of the lodge are: Albert Willson, noble grand;
James Willson, vice grand; Henry Wheeler, F. S. and R. S.; Louis Storz,
treasurer; James Elsey, P. G.
Court Pride of the Oak No. 24 of the Foresters of America, was
organized on the 9th day of February, I892, at Royal Oak, with the following officers: C. F. Quick, chief ranger; R. M. McClure, sub-chief
ranger; George B. Hammond, secretary; Joseph Stauch, treasurer. The
present officers of the lodge are: Louis Storz, deputy; William Wheeler,
chief ranger; Fred Barnard, sub-chief ranger; Fred Puvogel, financial
secretary; Louis Storz, recording secretary; Frank Laish, treasurer;
John Schrandt, senior woodward; Fred Esoman, junior woodward; John
Laich, junior beadle. Court Pride of the Oak No. 24 has 94 members