History Modern Woodmen of America

1 history

1.1 years
1.2 foresters drill teams
1.3 modern woodmen sanatorium
1.4 home offices

history
early years

modern woodmen of america founded joseph cullen root on january 5, 1883, in lyons, iowa. had operated number of businesses, including mercantile establishment, grain elevator , 2 flour mills, sold insurance , real estate, taught bookkeeping classes, managed lecture bureau, , practiced law. root member of several fraternal societies throughout years. wanted create organization protect families following death of breadwinner.

during sunday sermon, root heard pastor tell parable pioneer woodmen clearing away forests build homes, communities , security families. adopted term woodmen organization. complete name, added modern reflect need stay current , change times, , of america symbolize patriotism.

originally, modern woodmen had unique set of membership restrictions , criteria. religiously, group quite open, accepting jew , gentile, catholic , protestant, agnostic , atheist. however, until mid-1900s, membership restricted white males between ages of 18-45 12 healthiest states -- ohio, indiana, illinois, michigan, wisconsin, minnesota, iowa, missouri, dakotas, nebraska , kansas. residents of large cities disqualified membership, employed in professions, such railway workers, underground miners, gunpowder factory employees, liqueur wholesalers , manufacturers, saloon keepers, aeronauts, sailors on lakes , seas, , professional baseball players.

in 1884, head office organized in fulton, illinois. first death claim of $698.58 paid same year.

foresters drill teams

one of unique elements of organization drill teams, came known modern woodmen foresters. first drill team organized in hutchinson, kansas, in 1894. these groups became nationally known events held 1890 late 1930s, , foresters honored herbert hoover @ white house.

because each group differentiated different style , color of uniform, demonstrations referred rainbow parades. rainbow parades hosted cities across united states , included 10,000 units of foresters, more 160,000 men participating. last known rainbow parade held on michigan boulevard in chicago, , halted traffic more 2 hours while thousands of spectators viewed scene.

modern woodmen sanatorium

during tuberculosis (tb) epidemic of 1900s, modern woodmen opened 1,000-acre (4.0 km2) facility in colorado springs, colorado, in 1907.

the facility cost $1.5 million build , named 1 of outstanding institutions treatment of tuberculosis american college of surgeons, 1909 1947, sanatorium provided free treatment more 12,000 members. offered board, lodging, treatment, medicine, dental work , laundering, @ no expense patient.

tuberculosis leading cause of death among modern woodmen members when society opened modern woodmen tuberculosis sanatorium. following world war ii, antibiotics became available , tb declined in united states. facility closed in 1947, when tb ranked eighth in leading causes of death.

home offices

modern woodmen s first home office organized in fulton, illinois, in 1884. when organization moved rock island, illinois, in 1897, fulton residents fought keep modern woodmen in town. move blocked 3 times before successful. in 1898, modern woodmen officially opened home office @ 1504 third ave.

in 1967, modern woodmen opened new home office, located @ 1701 first avenue in rock island, illinois, accommodate rapid growth. home office remains there today, organization maintains active role in quad cities community.

in 2008, modern woodmen became naming rights sponsor of modern woodmen park, home of quad cities river bandits, in davenport, iowa.