Organizations | Lowell And Adams Tow

American Legion

The American Legion Post 750 is a not-for-profit, patriotic, Veterans organization, devoted to mutual helpfulness and community service. Legion Programs serve Veterans, their families, and others needing assistance in our community.

The first American Legion Post in Lowell was Post 412. This post was chartered on April 8, 1920, with 15 charter members. Post 412 was disbanded due to lack of interest.

American Legion Post 750 was chartered on July 30, 1948 with 46 charter members.

Post 750 had 60 members and an average attendance of 23 people over a span of 23 meetings in 1950. These meetings occurred twice a month, on the first and third Tuesday evenings. Post 750 was one of the fastest growing organizations in Lowell after World War II, and was second in the state among Legions in percentage of new members in 1949. They had 126 active members by 1964.

Meetings were held in the Masonic Lodge Hall until November 1953. The current Legion Hall building at 226 Main Street was purchased for $4,500. In August 1961, a mortgage burning was celebrated. Extensive repairs and remodeling started afterwards.

On August 19, 2019, thieves broke in through a second-floor window of the American Legion Hal, stealing money, trashing the second-floor canteen, breaking furniture and memorabilia, defacing surfaces with eggs, and creating a flood by plugging a toilet and leaving the water running. Law enforcement reports estimated the damage as having been between $10,000 and $20,000.

The following month, donors came from around the area to present assistance to the Legion to rebuild. Cash contributions totaled more than $6,000. The Beverly Lions Club, the Beverly American Legion Post 389 and the Beverly Legion Riders Club each contributed $500, and John McLaughlin on behalf of the Beverly Eagles Post 3665 presented a check for $5,000.

A hand-stitched honor quilt made by Julie Farriman of Wellington was raffled off to raise money. The Post had received many anonymous donations, and its group of staff and volunteers had put many hours into the clean-up.

Post meetings are held on the first Wednesday of the month at 7PM. All members, SAL, and Auxiliary members are welcomed to attend. Auxiliary meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month at 6:30PM.

Post 750 promotes fellowship and support among its members through their annual Legion picnic, Ladies Night, Legion Birthday dinner, awards night for Legion members, funeral ceremonies for Veterans, grave markers for Veterans, Gifts for Yanks contributions, state and national American Legion functions, American Legion Riders, contributions to the Auxiliary and Sons of Legion Post 750 chapter, and donations to Veterans down on their luck.

Post 750 promotes social welfare for community youth through their American Legion Baseball team (with Beverly Post 389), American Legion Buckeye boys and girls state, and donations to Fort Frye Schools, Lowell community youth sports leagues, the Special Olympics, the Mid Ohio Valley Spina Bifida fund, the LA Fire Department community Halloween Parade, and the Lowell community swimming pool.

Post 750 promotes social welfare for community members and organizations through Thanksgiving Dinners for seniors, Christmas Fruit Baskets for seniors, Lowell community flag displays, donations to the LA Fire department, and general donations to the Lowell community.

Post 750 raises funds through various ways, including donations and fundraising events. Steak Frys are major fundraiser for Post 750. They are held monthly, except in July and December. They are ran by a volunteer Steak Fry Chairman, which is different each month, along with a group of 10-12 volunteers. The Steak Frys are open to the public and are held at the Legion from 4:30pm to 7:30pm. Food includes steak cooked to order, chicken breast, baked steak and no meat meals. All meals come with a roll and salad. The Legion Auxiliary provides desserts at the steak frys, either through their own members or an outside group (4-H, School groups, etc.). Pull tabs are also sold at Steak Frys.

A Corn Roast is held annually in August. The first Corn Roast at the Post was held in 2023. Each Corn Roast features sweetcorn, food, a country store, 50/50 drawing, gun raffles, beer garden, and live music.

Funds are also generated through the sales at the club bar on the second floor. The club is a member only club. Legion, SAL, and Auxiliary members, and their guests are permitted entry. Another main source of funding for the Post is through paper Bingo and electronic Bingo machines.

Post 750 holds the annual Lowell Memorial Day parade. The parade includes members of the Legion, the Sons of the Legion, the Lowell-Adams Fire Department, Lowell's ball teams, and the Fort Frye band, among others. The parade starts on Main Street, and includes stops at the Veterans Monument, German Cemetery, Cats Creek bridge, and Greenlawn Cemetery where ceremonies are held. A lunch is held after the parade for Legion members, the Lowell-Adams Fire Department, ball teams, band members, and other parade watchers and participants. Post 750 also holds a ceremony at Our Lady of Mercy cemetery.

The charter members were:
Milton Arbaugh
Clarence Coffman
W. A. Cross
Bernard DeLong
John DeLong
Norman DeLong
George Eichhorn
John Engle
Herbert Haynes
Robert Hanes
Frank Harthshorn
Harold Hartshorn
Ronald Hartshorn
Robert Hinton Jr.
Lewis Hupp
Charles King
John Lang
Wilford Long
Robert Lukens
Leland McCarty
Martin McCathern
Ralph Mahoney
Donald Mincks
Ralph Morgenstern
Arthur Nicholas
Charles Pitt
Harley Pitt
James Pitt
Virgil Roff
Clarence Schmidt Jr.
Frank Schmidt
Carl Schwendeman
Clair Schwendeman
John Schwendeman
Walter Spies
Frank Stacy
Thomas Stacy
Granville Stevens
Orville Stollar
Joe Strahler
Joseph Strickland
Albert Tullius
Earl Wagner
Clarence Williams
Victor Wagner
Seth Woodford

Commanders of American Legion Post 750
Ronald A. Hartshorne, 1948
Robert Lyle Hanes, 1949
Clarence D. Schmidt, Jr., 1950
Orville D. Stollar, 1951
Harold K. Best, 1952
Ronald A. Hartshorne, 1953
Joe R. Strahler, 1954
O. J. Tolley, 1955
Arthur S. Nicholas, 1956
Eugene Pottmeyer, 1957
Charles E. Offenberger, 1958
Glenn Roff, 1959
Harry Schwarz, 1960
Carl Augenstein, 1961
Dale E. Pfile, 1962
Clair J. Schwendeman, 1963
Robert Hinton, Jr., 1964
John J. Schwendeman, 1965
Harley R. Pitt, 1966
Jack O. Best, 1967
Dale E. Pfile, 1968
Frank D. Engle, 1969
Clarence W. Ward, 1970
Norman D. Clark, 1971
Jack Hill, 1972
Jack Hill, 1973
Gene Wagner, 1974
James J. Lent, 1975
Jack Wagner, 1976
John Walter, 1977
Jack Henniger, 1978
Ronald D. Pfile, 1979
Nelson Augenstein, 1980
Delbert Offenberger, 1981
Thomas Lang, 1982
Kelton Fliehman, Jr., 1983
Norman Fish, 1984
Fred Dunfee, Jr., 1985
Jack Wagner, 1985-1986
Frank Engle, 1986-1987
Dennis Perdew, 1988
Paul Hinton, 1989
David Hughes, 1990
Larry Remmele, 1991
Larry Pottmeyer, 1992
Jack Henniger, 1993
Jean McCreery, 1994
Clarence W. Ward, 1995
Robert E. Burke, 1996
Marion Wells, 1997
David Hughes, 1998
Robert Gilham, 1999
Donald Barton, 2000
Richard Baker, 2001
Elbert McKitrick, Jr., 2002
Donivan Heiss, 2003
Cecil Bauerbach, 2004
John Paul, 2005
Damian Huck, 2006
Harry Lauer, 2007
Robert McIntyre, 2008
Lyle Hanes, 2009
Riley Morris, 2009-2015
Robert McIntyre, 2015-2019
Damian Huck, 2019-present

The American Legion Auxiliary, was chartered in January 1949.

They had 37 members by 1950. The American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) is a separate entity from the American Legion that shares the same values. The ALA is composed of spouses, mothers, daughters, granddaughters, and sisters of American war veterans.

The charter members were:
Pauline Bosner (Mrs. Ablert)
Fay Burchett (Mrs. Francis)
June Davis (Mrs. Wiley)
Betty DeLong (Mrs. Bernard)
Dora DeLong (Mrs. Norman)
Jean DeLong (Mrs. John)
Esther Engle (Mrs. Roy)
Mary Engle (Miss)
Loretta Fox (Mrs. Harley)
Nora Hartshorne (Mrs. Ronald)
Ada Hockenberry (Mrs. Frank)
Eulalia Huck (Mrs. Clemnce)
Hilda Long (Mrs. Wilford)
Verona Lukens (Mrs. Robert)
Louise Luton (Mrs. Clarence)
Esther McDermott (Mrs. Martin)
Dolores Mahoney (Mrs. Ralph)
Ruth Milner (Mrs. Paul)
Kathryn Nicholas (Mrs. Arthur)
Esther Roff (Mrs. Elza)
Jeanette Roff (Mrs. Virgil)
Grace Stacey (Mrs. Tom)
Virginia Stalnaker (Mrs. Orval)
Jean Stevens (Mrs. Granville)
Kathleen Stollar (Mrs. Orville)
Mary Strahler (Mrs. Joe)
Eunice Strickland
Isa Ulmer (Mrs. Earl)
Vergil Wilking (Mrs. Howard)
Jean Woodford (Mrs. Seth)

Presidents of the American Legion Auxiliary
Dora Delong (1948-49)
Jean Woodford (1949-50)
Kathleen Stollar (1950-51)
Mary Strahler (1951-52)
Esther Engle (1952-53)
June Davis (1953-54)
Velma Tolley (1954-55)
Letha Henniger (1955-56 and 1956-57)
Elizabeth Zinn (1957-58)
Velma Tolley (1958-59)
Roberta Roff Fish (1959-60)
Betty Schwartz (1960-61)
Faye Pfile (1961-62)
Shirley Ullman (1962-63 and 1963-64)
Jo Wilking (1964-65)
Edyth Augenstein (1965-66 and 1966-67)
Evelyn Hanes (1967-68)
Kathryn Nicholas (1968-69)
Lorena Engle (1969-70)
Thelma Stout (1970-71)
Sue Hunter (1971-72)
Julia Fleming (1972-73)
June Davis (1973-74 and 1974-75)
Sue Hunter (1975-76)
Joy Lent (1976-77)
Helen Wilson (1977-78)
Marge Addlesburger (1978-79)
Ruth Fleming (1979-80)
Linda Offenberger (1980-81)
Wanda Wagner (1981-82)
Evelyn Hulett (1982-83)
Joanne Raney (1983-84)
Beryl Taylor (1984-85)
Ruth Offenberger (1985-86)
Mary Hinton (1986-87)
Margy Perdew (1987-88)
Joanne Raney (1988-89)
Elva "Peg" Lynch (1989-90)
Pauline Bosner (1990-91)
June Davis (1991-92)
Clare Huck (1992-93)
Beryl Taylor (1993-94)
Evelyn Rice (1994-95)
Kim Gracely (1995-96)
Lorena Engle (1996-97)
Roberta Fish (1997-98)
Beryl Taylor (1998-99)
Jean Worstell (1999-2000)
Sylvia Reed (2000-2001)
Shirley Penland (2001-2002)
Darlene Burke (2002-2003)
Lorena Engle (2003-2004)
Elva Lynch (2004-05)
Beryl Taylor (2005-06)
Shirley Penland (2006-2009)
Darlene Ogletree (2009-2010)

The Sons of the American Legion (SAL), was chartered in January 1977.

The SAL have members that are male descendants of men or women who served honorably in the U.S. Armed Forces.

The charter members were:
Chadwick Augenstein
Terry Beardsley
Kevin Beardsley
Chris Brown
Jeffrey Canterbury
Galden Davis
Brooks Davis
David Hanes
John M. Heiss
John D. Heiss
Gary Henniger
Dennis Henniger
Jack Hill Jr.
Paul Hinton
Danny Hinton
Steven Klinger
David McCarty
Jim Schwendeman
Mark Schwendeman
Donald Schwendeman
Jerry Smith
Ronald Wagner
Jay Wagner
John Wagner
Roger Woodford

Lowell Masonic Lodge

The Masons (Lowell Masonic Lodge, #436, F & AM), chartered on October 21, 1867,
is the oldest organization in Lowell. The charter members were: John Tarbell, Albert
Chandler, John Williamson, Philip Mattern, Joseph Cox, John W. Frye, Sylvester Ma
son, Cyrenus Buchanan, S. M. Merriam, William Mason, William Engler, and A. C.
Stacy.

The first officers were: John Tarbell, W. M.; Albert Chandler, S. M.; John Williamson,
J. W.; Phillip Mattern, Treasurer; Joseph Cox, Secretary; J. W. Frye, S. D.; Sylvester
Mason, J.D.; and Cyrenus Buchanan, Tyler.

Early masters include: John Tarbell, A. Chandler (1871), J. W. Frye (1872), A. Chandler
(1873), John Williamson (1874), Jacob Landsettle (1875), Sylvester Mason (1876),
George Snyder (1877), J. Landsettle (1878), and P. Mattern (1880).

The charter membership of 12 grew to 34 in 1898, There were 32 members in 1902,
and this held steady until about 1905, then gradually rose to more than 100 members.
Meetings were held on Wednesday evenings, "on or before the full moon." This date
was set before the advent of automobiles or even flashlights, so that members could
go to and from meetings by the light of the moon. Currently, meetings are held on the
1st Thursday of each month.

The lodge was constituted on December 25, 1869 by David Aikin, Past Master, in Phil
ip Mattern's building on Main Street where meetings were held until September 1870,
when the lodge moved into the Franz Schneider building on Main Street and occupied
the third floor. They paid their first annual rent of $60 in full and in advance.

In October 1907, the lodge moved again to the third floor of the Charles A. Reed build
ing (now the American Legion). Here they were charged an annual rent of $65 which
they paid in two installments. The third floor has since been removed.

In 1896, Frank H. Wolfram built a large, three-story brick building on the corner of Main
and Walnut Streets. To be more exact, Wolfram built the basement and first two stories
and the I.O.O.F. paid for the construction of the third floor. The total cost was around
$8,000.

Under the quaint contract drawn at the time, the I.O.O.F. were responsible for the care
and upkeep of the roof and the owner of the ground floor, for the foundation. These
stipulations are to pass to all subsequent owners.

In 1927, for $2,300, the Lowell Masonic Lodge purchased the second floor of the build
ing. They spent an additional $1,000 remodeling their new premises.

When the Lowell I.O.O.F. disbanded in 1944, the Masonic Lodge purchased the top
floor of the Wolfram building from them for $550. But it wasn't long until they had to pay
$1,200 to repair the roof.

The Masons have hosted an annual Easter Egg Hunt in Lowell for a number of years.
They participate in the Adopt A Highway Program and take care of 2 miles of State
Route 60 south of Lowell.

The Eastern Star Chapter (Lowell Chapter #272, O.E.S.) was started on June 26,
1907 by 20 ladies and 10 men who shared the related expenses of the venture. Mari
etta Chapter #59, assisted by the Worthy Grand Patron, was in charge of the ceremo
nies. In 1950 there were 125 members.

Knights of Pythias

The Knights of Pythias (Buell's Lodge, #395, K of P) was started on December 26,
1899, with 20 charter members. The ceremonies incident to the organization of Lowell
Knights were held in Marietta.

The charter members were: George Baughman, Ed W. Dean, John Shawhan, Wiley
Applebay, Louis Henniger, George Kenney, John Grosskloss, Jonas D. Mason, Arthur
N. Davis, George E. Mason, Walter H. Mason, John C. Wagner, Frank D. Devol, Hardin
D. Applebay, Julius Fritchi, Charles Finkle, Harry H. Adams, Charles D. Dean, Sylves
ter Mason, and Cort S. King.

The first two members initiated at Lowell were Henry Spies and D. W. Sprague.
In 1902 the lodge had 97 members and real estate valued at $2,500. Meetings were
held every Monday evening. The Lodge gained members and steadily increased its
property and equipment until 1913 when it met heavy loss due to the flood. A chief item
of loss was a player piano that had been purchased a week or so prior to flood time.
The organization contributed heavily of its membership to World War I. Fifteen people
were in action, one of whom was killed in the Argonne. His funeral was conducted lo
cally, on October 16, 1921.

At the close of the year 1920, the Lodge owned a building valued at $300; furniture and
equipment, $850; bonds, $600; and cash, more than $300. After a "slump" which was
characteristic of most town and village lodges during World War II, the Lodge more
than regained its former interest and enthusiasm.

The Lodge had an enrollment of 85 members in 1950. Meetings are held in the K. of P.
Hall on Buell Island.

The Pythian Sisters (Lowell Temple #230), the women's organization of the Knights
of Pythias, was started as the Lowell Temple Rathbone Sisters #230 on October 15,
1903 with 33 members installed by the Dexter City Temple. The name Rathbone was
dropped nationally in 1906. In the early 1970s, the Sisters from the Marietta Temple
joined with the Lowell group. In 1983, the Sisters of the Elba Temple joined them. The
group had 70 members in 1950.

Odd Fellows

The Odd Fellows (Lowell Lodge, #438, I.O.O.F.), chartered on August 23, 1869, with
the following members: Henry Wolf, Jacob Hopp, Jacob Becker, Jacob Landsettle,
Franz Wilking Sr., Franz Wilking Jr., Jacob Rietz, William Wendell, John Wilking, Abe
rus Judd Sr., E. W. Sprague, Parley Rummer, J. S. Donalson, and S. M. Devol.

The first officers were: A. Judd, noble grand; Franz Wilking Jr., secretary; E. W.
Sprague, treasurer.

The lodge was constituted by Grand Marshal H. G. Hollister and Grand Marshal Snid
er. The noble grands included: A. Judd, Jr., Franz Wilking, Sr., I. D. Spooner, J. L. De
long, E. C. Farquhar, O. A. Stacy, H. Porter, Albert Chandler, Jacob Landsettle, William
Bosner, Franz Wilking, Jr., Jacob Becker, J. A. Fleck, Henry Spies, R. S. Mason, John
Williamson, William Wendell, David Wilking, Jr., C. E. Judd, Christian Doeberiner, J. A.
Fleck, David Wilking, and Theobald Becker.

It was reported in 1881, that the lodge "always had a large membership." In 1902, it
had 91 members enrolled upon its roster and real estate valued at $3,000.

This lodge met in the Schneider Building on Main Street until 1896 when it moved to
the third floor of the Wolfram building. This lodge disbanded in 1944 and sold the third
floor to the Masons.

The Daughters of the Rebekahs (Sunbeam Lodge #51), was organized on August
23, 1888. The lodge claimed in 1902 to have a goodly number of members, and were
holding meetings every Thursday evening. The Rebekahs disbanded in 1946.

The Grand Army of the Republic

The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) was a fraternal organization composed of Veterans of the Union Army, Union Navy, and the Marines who served in the Civil War. It was founded in 1866 in Decatur, Illinois, and grew to include thousands of posts. It was dissolved in 1956 at the death of its last member, Albert Woolson.

Dick Mason Post 304 in Lowell was chartered on March 24, 1883. The Post was mustered in by District Mustering Officer Colonel T. F. Davis, assisted by a detachment of Buell Post of Marietta, Ohio. They had 23 charter members.

The Post was named for 1st Lt Richard Devol Mason who had died during the Civil War.
On November 4, 1883, Post 304 lost all of its property when their building burned. Post 304 surrendered their charter in 1911-1912.

1883 - 23 members; Post Commander, James F. Putnam; S. V. C., S. C. Kile; J. V. C., Jacob Grosscloss; Adj't, R. B. Griggs; Surgeon, R. Fouraker; Chaplain, M. Augenstein; Q. M., Daniel Espensheat; O. D., A. Thompson; O. G., G. W. Lucas; S. M., C. Henniger; Q. M. S., A. Haga.
1884 - Post Commander James F. Putnam, Delegate S. C. Kile, Delegate Jacob Grosscloss
1885
1886 - 24 members, Post Commander J. Landsittle
1887 - Post Commander, J. F. Putnam; S. V. C, C. E. Judd; J. V. C., C. C. McCurdy; Q. M., J. W. Brabham; O. D., A. J. Thompson; Chap., G. W. Lucas; O. G., M. King; Adj't, R. B. Griggs; S. M., R. Allison; Q. M. S., M. Augenstein; Surg., D. Espensheat.
1888 - 16 members, Post Commander Daniel Espensheat ; S. V. C., Conrad Pfaff; J. V. C., Christopher McCurdy; Q. M., Chauncey E. Judd; Surg., Elias Stephens; Chap., Milton King; O. D., A. J. Thompson; O. G., Brainard Brooker.
1889 - 17 members, Post Commander Daniel Espensheat, Delegate Daniel Espensheat, Alternate Milton King
1890 - 15 members, Post Commander C. E. Judd, Delegate M. King, Alternate M. McAtee
1891 - 16 members, Post Commander Daniel Espensheat, Delegate C. E. Judd, Alternate G. W. Lucas
1892 - 17 members, Post Commander Daniel Espensheat, Delegate M. Augenstein, Alternate C. E. Judd
1893 - 17 members, Post Commander Daniel Espensheat, Delegate M. Augenstein, Alternate C. Pfaff
1894 - 16 members, Post Commander Daniel Espensheat, Delegate M. Augenstein, Alternate J. Wright
1895
1896 - 15 members, Post Commander Milton King, Delegate C. E. Judd, Alternate M. Ewing
1897 - 15 members, Post Commander Daniel Espensheat, Delegate C. E. Judd, Alternate J. W. Brabham
1898 - 16 members, Post Commander A. J. Thompson, Delegate J. W. Brabham, Alternate M. Augenstein
1899 - 17 members, Post Commander Daniel Espensheat, Delegate C. E. Judd, Alternat M. King
1900 - 17 members, Post Commander Daniel Espensheat, Delegate Edward Skinnard, Alternate C. E. Judd
1901 - 18 members, Post Commander Daniel Espensheat, Delegate Jacob F. Bay, Alternate C. E. Judd
1902 - 15 members, Post Commander C. J. Pfaff, Delegate C. E. Judd, Alternate Edward Skinnard
1903 - 15 members, Post Commander C. J. Pfaff
1904
1905 - 12 members, Post Commander Daniel Espensheat, Delegate C. E. Judd, Alternate A. J. Thompson
1906 - 8 members, Post Commander Daniel Espensheat, Delegate C. J. Pfaff, Alternate C. E. Judd
1907 - 15 members, Post Commander Daniel Espensheat, Delegate A. J. Thompson, Alternate C. E. Judd
1908 - 15 members, Post Commander C. J. Pfaff, Delegate C. E. Judd, Alternate A. J. Thompson
1909 - 15 members, Post Commander C. J. Pfaff, Delegate C. E. Judd, Alternate A. J. Thompson; S. V. C., W. Barnhart; Chaplain, Matt Augenstein; Adjutant, A. B. Simons; Quartermaster, Chauncey E. Judd.
1910 - 12 members, Post Commander C. J. Pfaff, Delegate C. E. Judd, Alternate A. J. Thompson
1911 - 12 Members, Post Commander John Riecker, Delegate C. E. Judd, Alternate A. J. Thompson

Moose Lodge

The Loyal Order of the Moose (Lowell Lodge #2382) was established in 1991. Ben
Eddy, William Hawn, and Howard Milligan were the incorporators.

The lodge was first located at the old Wolfram building on Main Street. It is now located
on State Route 60 north of Lowell.

Their auxiliary is the Lowell Chapter 2261 Women of the Moose.

They participate in the Adopt A Highway Program and take care of 2 miles of State
Route 60 north of Lowell.

Scouts

A Boy Scout Troop was organized in Lowell as early as 1949 with 8 members. There
have been several attempts made since then.

The first Lowell Girl Scout Troop was founded in 1946. By 1950, there were 17 mem
bers in the younger girls group and 15 in the teenagers group. Lowell Troop #61213
currently has 12 girls and 6 adult members.

4-H

The Lowell Girl's 4-H Club was organized about 1922 as the Buckeye Food and Can
ning Club. It had 22 members in 1950, ranging in age from nine to 15 years. The Low
ell Combined 4-H Club was organized about 1948 with five members: two boys and
three girls. By 1950, there were eight members, four boys, and four girls.

Some early advisors were: Cora Kile, Alice Baesel, Stella Henniger, Leona Wetz, and
Christine Stage. Some of the later advisors were: Carrie Stout, Lindsey Craven, Jo
Wilking, Marjorie Miller, Charlotte Wagner, Dorothy Weckbacher, Margaret Bules, Myr
tle Naylor, and others.

The Lowell Lively Lassies & Lads 4-H Club had 8 members in 2021. One of the
leaders of the Lowell club, Charlotte Wagner, was inducted into the Ohio 4-H Hall of
Fame in 2019, and was recognized in 2021 for her 75-year service to 4-H. She is the
longest serving 4-H volunteer in Ohio.

PTO

Lowell High School had a Parent Teachers Association. Lowell Elementary currently has a Parent Teachers Organization.

The Lowell High School PTA would serve the annual banquet about graduation time
to the Alumni Association. The banquet honored the seniors who at about that time
become Alumni Association members upon payment of the membership fee of 50 cen
ters. There were 500 or more members by 1950.

Truck Growers Association

The Marietta Truck Growers Association had a Lowell Branch. At one time it was
Lowell’s largest summertime employer. During the packing season, it used between 40
and 50 people at the packing house, largely on a part-time basis.

No meetings of the Association were held in Lowell, but a monthly meeting occurred in
Marietta because the organization operated on a county-wide basis. The Association
constructed a building for packing in 1945.

In 1950, there were over 100 members in the Lowell area (Adams Township). The chief
function of the organization was to market the truck crops of its members. The two
main commodities handled were cabbage and tomatoes, which the members must,
by agreement, sell to the Association. Other crops that were marketed included sweet
corn, peppers, and potatoes, handled on a non-contract basis; that is, these could be
sold to the Association or to an outside buyer at the option of the grower. The Associ
ation charged a 12 percent commission on the produce which it marketed. It also sold
seed and fertilizer to its members at a slight savings under regular prices.

The Grange

The Grange No. 2475, was founded in October 1928. The first master was Lloyd Stacy. By 1950, it had 179 members.

Meetings were first held in the Odd Fellows Hall on the third story of the Wolfram build
ing and in Lloyd Stacy's garage on his farm. The Grange Hall was built in 1939 on
ground donated by Lloyd Stacy below Lowell. It was dedicated on August 17, 1940.
This new hall was built to meet expanding requirements of the organization. Regular
meetings, planned after the national pattern, were held on the second and fourth Fri
days of each month. The average attendance at these meetings was about 40 in 1950.

The group exhibited at the Country Fair in Marietta and at the Barlow Community Fair
each year. The Grange won first prize for six consecutive years for its exhibit at the
Washington County Fair. In the years 1937 and 1938 it won the second prize of $100
for its exhibit at the Ohio State Fair.

The Grange aimed to help all of its members in the improvement of farming and family
living through the use of lectures, movies, and demonstrations. In addition, it cooperat
ed in different ways on local community and area programs.

The Grange also had a youth chapter that included children up to the age of 14. The
youth group had 24 members in 1950, whose meetings were held in the basement
of the Grange hall coincidental with the adult sessions on the main floor. The youth
helped in paying off the debt on the hall. They had also received prizes on their exhibits
at the County Fair and had given plays for the adults from time to time.

It is noteworthy that another Grange (Lowell Grange, No. 1035), preceded this one.

It was organized on September 30, 1874, with 19 members. A charter was issued in
October of 1874.

The first officers were: George Snyder, master; O. A. Stacy, overseer; R. S. Mason,
lecturer; A. Chandler, chaplain; S. C. Kile, steward; T. M. Alexander, assistant steward;
Walter Davis, treasurer; Emily Mason, ceres; Lydia Stacy, pomona; Elizabeth Davis,
flora; Jane Alexander, lady assistant steward.

The masters were: George Synder (1874-1877); J. W. Frye (1877-1880); A. O. Stacy
(1880-1881), and R. S. Mason (1881).

In the Spring of 1878, the Union Grange Fair Association was formed by delegates
from Lowell, Liberty Hill, and Adams granges. The first fair was held at Lowell in Sep
tember 1878, and was successful.

Jackson, Ridge, Valley, and Waterford Granges were soon added to the Association
and a satisfactory fair was held in 1879. Bad weather greatly impaired a fair of the next
year, at which time the Lowell Grange had a membership of 20.

The Grange seems to have functioned until at least 1881.

Lowell Food Pantry

Lowell Area Mission Basket Food Pantry - This food pantry is operated by a cooperative Board of Directors from the Lowell Area Ecumenical Cooperative of churches, consisting of Highland Ridge Community Church, Lowell United Methodist Church, St John’s Evangelical Church and Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church.

The pantry serves local residents twice a month, on the second and fourth Wednesdays from 9-11 AM. As of 2021, the pantry was reportedly serving more than 80 people each month.

The pantry provides groceries to individuals and offers other care items and household essentials.

Their thrift shop provides new or used clothing to individuals.

The pantry gets its food from a variety of sources, including the Southeast Ohio Food Bank in Logan, Harvest of Hope, food drives, and Warren’s IGA. The community is also helping the pantry through volunteering and donations; help with food drives from the Lowell Adams Volunteer Fire Department; and donations from Lowell Elementary School.

It is located at 309 Walnut Street.

Others

Men's Community Fellowship, was founded in 1946 as the outcropping of an idea

forwarded by the pastor of St. John's Evangelical and Reformed Church. In fact, this

pastor pushed the plan until several other people in town became interested. The initial

membership consisted of 8.

The purpose behind the organization was the promotion of understanding and unity

between the members of the several churches in Lowell. The group presented var

ied interesting programs, usually a guest speaker of some reputation who talked on

a topic in his field. The speakers included businessmen, professors, preachers, and

local, county, state, and even national government officials. By 1950, there were 30

members, and attendance at some of the meetings, held once per a month on Tuesday

evening, was ranged as high as 100.

The Child Welfare/Conservation League was started in 1947 by Mrs. Gerald Beach

and Mrs. Hayward Hughes. The officers elected at that time were, President, Mrs.
Thomas Schwendeman; Vice President, Mrs. Cecil Schwendeman; Secretary, Mrs.
Seth Woodford; Treasurer, Mrs. Vergil Roff.

It was affiliated with the state organization to which it paid dues in addition to those
paid in the local chapter. The club met once a month to study and discuss the care of
children at different ages or periods of development. Use was made of books on child
care distributed by the state organization.

The local club had 15 members in 1950 – three below the maximum number to be ad
mitted. To be a member, one who was recommended had to be voted upon by actives
in the group.

In addition to its regular duty, the club had a project each year, such as helping with or
contributing to the Boy Scouts.

The Band Boosters Club was started in October 1949 from the decision of a few

mothers of Lowell High School band members who realized that the band "needed
something to help make a go of it." At first, the membership included only these moth
ers but as soon as people generally saw the purpose, and what a band could mean to
the community, they turned out to help.

The major objective of the organization was to secure uniforms for the band. The group
of some two dozen members met once per a month in addition to staging special activ
ities or programs intended to raise money. Among these activities were tag day which
brought in about $45; bake sale, $28; and Halloween party, $67. They raised $300 for
the principal payment on an available lot of 40 blue and white suits.

The Buckeye Food and Canning Club was reorganized on April 2, 1927 under the

leadership of Cora Kile and Nora Riecker, assistant. Other officers were: President,
Virgil Young; Vice-President, Mary Young, Secretary, Babetta Brewhas, News Reporter,
Martha Wendell, Recreation Leader, Florence Fleming.

In addition to cooking and meal preparation, room arrangement was added in 1927.
Enrollement that year included: Room Arrangement - Marion Spies, Virgil, Schmidt,
Babetta Brewhaus, Eileen Kidd, Norma Riecker, Fern Ward; Meal Preparation - Julia
Crumbaker, Sarah Leake, Babetta Brewhaus, Martha Wendell, Virgil Smith, Frances
Riecker; Baking - Florence Bartamess, Gretchen Beach, Juanita Rummer, Ruth Parks,
Ruth Moore, Marion Spies, Jeanette Spies, Paulie Wilking, Florence Fleming, Julia
Hartshorn, Martion Metze, Mary Elizabeth Forshey, Glenna Lowe, Dorothy Dye, Mary
Young; Cooking - Norma Born, Laura Giffin, Juanita Roff, Marion Baesel.

The Gun Club, was organized by a group of men in about 1904. The club held its

meetings and target practices at Snyder's Grove just below the village. Shortly thereaf
ter, a group of women formed The Rifle Club, which also met at Snyder's Grove. Nei
ther club exists now. Currently there is The Cats Creek Gun Club.

"A" Company Cats Creek Milita was incorporated in 1971 with Cecil Brooks, James
Gant, and Donald Cain as trustees. William Wilson was President in 1976. The pur
pose of this organization was "to promote the interest in the use and safe operation of
small arms. To furnish instruction in the handling of firearms and to encourage competi
tion among the members through shooting meets and special events."

The Chief Aritaxel Club was organized in the 1880s by Willard Davis. The club was

dedicated to learning and preserving the history of the Lowell area. Willard Davis'
hope was that other chapters across the country would be organized with the same
aim for their location.

One of the first projects undertaken by the club was the restoration of the old Congre
gational Church building. When the church building was closed and abandoned, it was
left to vandals, floods, leaks in the roof, and rats in the basement. Willard Davis was a
trustee of the empty church.

The club had been meeting for several years in the homes of various members. It
seemed logical that the club could both save the building and also use it. Davis, Val
Wilking, John Hollinger, and George Wagner set to work to point up the bricks, repair
the roof, and clean and paint the interior. Other members pitched in to do whatever
they could to help.

Within a few months, members of the club also built a stage in the former sanctuary.
With pews already there for seats, this made a fine theater for the community in which
to hold amateur plays, local band concerts, debates of the literary societies, and meet
ings of local interest.

The club also dedicated the Kinney Garrison Monument.

The Laurel Ridge Club - This club existed during the first half of the 1900s. Among

the members listed in 1927 were, Mr. and Mrs. George Kinney, Mr. and Mrs. William
Blocher, Mr. and Mrs. William Bogard, Mr. and Mrs. Arza Augenstein and children, Mr.
and Mrs. O. T. Gant and sons, Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Stevens and children, Mr. and Mrs.
Charles Carver, Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Ball, Ed Giffen, John Morgenstern, Nettie Giffin,
Nellie Morgenstern, Hilda Morgenstern, and Lucy Morgenstern.

The N. N. Club - This club existed during the early 1900s. The club was noted for

"needlework and social conversation". Among the members in 1927 were, Mrs. George
Rothley, Mrs. Ray Henniger, Mrs. W. W. Ray, Mrs. Kathryn Rothley, Mrs. H. H. Young,
Mrs. Dewey Holling, Mrs. H. E. Riecker, and Mrs. A. F. Wendell.

The New Idea Sewing Club - Among the members in 1931 were, Mrs. Charles Hess,

Mrs. Ed George, Mrs. William Rechsteiner, Mrs. O. H. Henniger, Mrs. Forrest Waller,
Mrs. Charles Baesel, Mrs. Anna Schob, and Mrs. Lulu Thomas.

The Jubilee Sewing Club - Among the members in 1939, were Mrs. Ceola Jackson

and Mrs. George Ludwig.

The Lowell Poultry Association, later named The Muskingum Valley Poultry Asso

ciation - This association held annual shows at Lowell. In 1895, the show was held on
December 17, 18, 19, and 29. A. F. Stacy was President and W. H. Davis was Secre
tary at that time.

The Rook Club - Members in 1927 included, Mrs. W. W, Ray, Mrs. Spencer Kile, Mrs.

H. E. Riecker, Mrs. C. B. Chandler, Mrs. Kate Wilking, Mrs. Lewis Wilking, Mrs. Howard
Ward, Mrs. O. H. Rice, and Maud Kyle.

The Lowell Historical Society was incorporated on November 16, 1999 with Jane

Rauch, Steve Weber, and Marian Schimmel as Trustees.

The Society was involved with the moving of Strait Run School House and for operat
ing a Museum there. The Society also helped with the Gen. Don Carols Buell plaque
on Buell Island.

There have been a number of clubs for seniors, including Lowell Hill Senior Citi

zens and Lowell Community Senior Citizens. The Lowell Senior Citizens hold pot
luck meetings on the Second Tuesday of each month at 12 pm in the basement of St.
John's Evangelical Church.

There have been a number of clubs for gardening, including the Lowell Community

Garden Club.

The Muskingum Valley Trail Blazers Cycle Club was organized on September 14,

1973. The President was Gale Karcher and Vice-President was Jim Hoover.

"A lot of boys have motorcycles today and they need someplace to ride except on
the highways and village streets, especially the ones who aren't old enough to be li
censed."

The group had a constitution and set ob by-laws with dues, 50 cents a week, and the
manner in which all money shall be handled and dispensed.

Qualifications for new members and the manner in which they shall be admitted were
also outlined.

Rules for safety and proper cycle riding and behavior of the youths in the club were
spelled out with punishments delineated.

"Any member violating any type of cycle laws, local or in state, shall be suspended for
a period of one month for the first offense. Second offense, he/she shall be expelled
from membership."