By Pauline Masson –
Remembering our community’s involvement in a 140-year-old insurance fraternal organization mirrors our modern regard for neighbors, helping those in need and our respect for military veterans.
The annual Modern Woodmen of America (MWA) parade on St. Louis Street in 1908, above, was an event befitting the enthusiasm of leaders in the little railroad hamlet of joining together to celebrate Pacific’s love of neighbors. It was one of the most active fraternal organizations in the city’s history. And one of the first.
The hometown cheer leader for over forty years, until its members melded into the Knights of Columbus, Knights of Pythias, Masons, Lions Club and other worthy organizations, the MWA was the supernova of social and cultural life in Pacific well into the 1950s.
Joseph Cullen Root founded the MWA on January 5, 1883, in Lyons, Iowa. The first premise was to assist widows and orphans (families that had lost the head of the family, particularly in wars.) Nine years later in 1894, Pacific leaders formed an MWA Camp in here.
That same year the wives of Modern Woodmen took a bold step. Instead of forming the traditional ladies auxiliary of the all male Woodmen, they formed their own fraternal organization the Royal Neighbors of America – a name inspired by the verse, For better is a neighbor that is near than a brother that is far.
It’s tricky to attribute today’s social norms to the values of the early 1900s Modern Woodmen, but you can’t read the reports of the MWA assembling citizens and other fraternal groups at the cemetery each Memorial Day for celebrations without seeing similar activities today.
In August 1898 during the Spanish American War, the Pacific MWA staged a spectacular fire works display at Freeman’s Grove – where ever that was – that they advertised as a reproduction of the bombardment of Santiago. That war would not be over for another four months, but the US Maine had been bombed in April and lives had been lost.
When I came to Pacific as a reporteer in 1987, I was immediately introduced to the tributes paid to veterans here.
One memorial day the local Boy Scouts contacted the City Cemetery Committee. They planned to install a small flag next to the grave of each veteran. My friend the late Ruth Mueller, a history guru with a staggering memory, went out to the cemetery, walked every row and placed a marker at the grave of every veteran so the Scouts would know where to set their flags. This annual ritual goes on to this day.
I joined the local history organization, the Meramec Valley Genealogical and Historical Society, (MVGHS) and was amazed that two of its members – the late Hilda Bandermann and her daughter Jeannie – had created an archive of the veterans of every war that were buried here – and I mean every war. Even veterans of the Revolutionary War relocated and died here. Cemeteries were the Bandermanns’s research sites. They trekked through cemeteries throughout the area, photographed tombstones and collected obituaries to make sure that every veteran was remembered.
When Tim Husereau commissioned a fantastic mural of a saluting marine on his building on North First Street, he invited local veterans to sign their name on a space next to the mural. He allowed Ms. Bandermann to add the names of veterans in her archive to the list.
When the Auxiliary rededicated its veterans Honor Roll monument after they finally raised the funds to have the veterans names carved in stone, a huge crowd poured into the street to bear witness.
Pat Smiley went a step further, creating a walking military history museum in Liberty Field Park that honored the veterans of every American conflict. Local teachers helped write the tributes and citizens helped fund the black marble plaques that encircle the park. On the day they were unveiled a crowd reminiscent of the MWA events gathered to celebrate.
In the late1990s, Pacific High School began an annual Nov. 11, Veterans Day ceremony in the school gymnasium to recognize living veterans of all branches of service. After being individually escorted into the gym, veterans are seated in rows on the floor where they are recognized with patriotic music and tributes for their service. The entire student body fills the bleachers to cheer the veterans.
Lasting as these rituals are, the MWA didn’t limit their celebrations to veterans. They staged huge community picnics, almost weekly dances that they usually referred to as balls, they hosted the annual Franklin County MWA conventions here and fielded delegations to the Missouri State fair in Sedalia each year.
One of the most popular traditions of the national MWA, was the practice of recruiting and training drill teams, billed as Foresters, that practiced intricate marching drills – hefting an ax on their shoulder. For a period of time Pacific Woodmen had a drill team that performed for the community and competed in regional drill team competitions. From the 1890s to the 1930s, the Forester Drill Teams were one of the most celebrated precision drill teams in America. They were Known far and wide for their elaborate uniforms, shiny axes and meticulous drills
I did not find a photo of the Pacific MWA drill team, but I came across a photo of the first MWA team in the U.S.
And – I Googled the MWA drill teams on YouTube and was able to see a demonstration of several Forester Drill Teams at the 1931 Head Camp gathering in Buffalo NewYork. The Foresters did not disappoint.
To see this spectacular snippet of history, Google “Historical Foresters video – Modern Woodmen of America.
It’s worth remembering.
I have ancestors that were in the MWA in Pacific. I do believe I have one of their pins.
I’ve always been interested to know what they did. I thought they sold insurance. Thanks for this wealth of information Paula!
They did sell insurance. At one time they were the largest insurance fraternal organization in the world, had reached $1 billion in aggregate holdings before 1930. But what they did socially here in Pacific was just electrifying. They constantly organized events that got people out of their homes and coming together. They invited the other fraternal groups to join them, which they often did. They supported every hall in town, Leber’s Hall, Roemer’s Hall, Frank Fries Hall, and the McHugh & Dailey Hall. And they provided venues for a number of local bands to perform. I had not heard of them before I stumbled into their activities when I was researching halls. I was captivated, as you could probably tell reading my blog.