State Province: CA

If you've ever noshed on the sumptuous bao of Hong Kong Bakery or slurped down pho from Pho To Chau on downtown Mountain View's Castro St, you have walked past Odd Fellows Lodge #244. Maybe you and your kids have seen inside this historic 1909 building during the Odd Fellows' annual events, such as our Haunted House or Pride Flag Raising. Maybe you visit the lodge every Wednesday night for the Odd Writers' League, or on 2nd and 4th Sundays as a genderqueer or transgender member of the Oddi ...

The Ocean View Lodge No. 143 was founded in Half Moon Bay in 1868, making it one of the oldest operating organizations on the California Coastside. Before a formal municipality existed, fraternal organizations like the Odd Fellows managed the civic affairs of the community. The influence of the lodge was so central that all five of the original Half Moon Bay city councilmen were members, and the local city government was officially formed right inside the Odd Fellows Hall. Today, the lodge co ...