About

The Celina Moose Lodge #1473 is apart of the Loyal Order of Moose. To see more information about the L.O.O.M., please refer to the Moose International website.

History of the Celina Moose Lodge #1473

The Celina Moose Lodge was organized in 1914. A Mr. Steinmetz from Van Wert was the organizer. The first initiation was held in the old Riley Hall.  This was the same space occupied by the former Wollam Aircraft Co., which burnt down.  During the early years, meetings were also held in the old Dickman Building above Wilson Shoe Store and Lyons Wallpaper Store.  Later the Lodge established a permanent Clubroom in the Riley Building where headquarters were maintained until the West Warren St. building was purchased in 1930.  The building was remodeled in 1940.

The site of the new building was purchased from the Riley heirs in 1947.  Al Bruns was the Governor at the time.  Planning for the new building was started under Governor Hubert Ayers in 1951.  Construction was started under Governor Arthur Brophy in 1952 and completed under Gov.  G. E. Wolfe.

The first Governor’s name seems to have been lost in antiquity, but the first Secretary was George Weber.  Some of the early Governors of the Lodge included Otto Ott, Steve Bettinger, Morris Kaye, Clifford Hay, Henry Wagner, Sherbian Jenkins, William Bachar, Glen Forwerck, and many other prominent Celinans.

At the bottom of the depression, the membership roll had dropped to about forty members and the Lodge was in bad shape.  In 1940, Al Bruns took over as Governor and affairs of the Lodge took a rapid rise under his administration until the rolls included approximately five hundred members.  Mr. Bruns held the Governor’s post for four and a half years.  He has been honored by the Supreme Lodge with the Fellowship and Pilgrim degrees.  He was given much of the credit for the foundation in membership and club finance which made the present building at the time possible.

A new building was built at a cost of $80,000 and new and existing equipment was valued at $15,000.  The land, including the old Riley residence, cost $15,000.  Experts acclaimed it the finest small Lodge Hall in Northwester Ohio, with a value far in excess of its cost.

The Lodge on Main St. in the 60’s and 70’s was guided by many men such as Kenneth Weir, Ben Kochert, Larry Gray, Bill Jarrett, Dick Miller, Bob Laughlin, Leon Regedanz, Bobby Smith, Melvin Buschur, Henry Schulte, and Gerald Wolfe.  During this period, the Lodge won the State Ritual competition at the State Convention.

In the 80’s, Moose International changed the dues structure from $20 to $30 and many members were dropped from the rolls.  It took other men, such as Monty Hathaway, Mike Uhlenhake, Dave Weitzel, Everardo Rodriguez, Ken Schock, Charles Craw, Joe Mayes, Steve Zumberge, Terry Borger, Tim Beougher, Mike Hoying, Rudy Dorsten, John Kochert and Jim Monroe to keep the Lodge’s membership from declining.

In 1985, the Lodge was beginning to grow in membership under the Governorship of Mike Uhlenhake (one of the youngest men at the time to ever serve as a Lodge Governor) and newly appointed Administrator, Jim Monroe.  The Board decided to pursue a new Lodge home.

In the fall of 1986, the Moose purchased three acres from Charles and Polly Ayers located at 1120 E. Market St. on the shores of Grand Lake St. Marys.  H.A. Dorsten was contracted to construct a new Lodge Home by adding to the former Rokies Restaurant.  Lodge building committee members consisted of Governor Ken Schock, Administrator Jim Monroe, Steve Zumberge, Tim Kelly, Doug Bomholt, Dale Laux, Bill Jarrett, Dave Weitzel, Ralph Beckstedt, Bob Krick, Ed Butterini Sr. and Ken Detrick.

Since 1988, various changes were made to the property to accommodate the ever growing membership.  Many men were instrumental in the progress in the 90’s such as Ed McGillvary, Everardo, Rodriguez, Chuck Craw, Ralph Beckstedt, Tim Kelly, Gerry McClellan, Howard LeCompte, John Fawcett, Larry Post, Ken Deitrick, Garry Winget, Chuck Staugler, Thurman Starr, Butch Braun, John Rethman and Jim Monroe