Grand Island has had many lodges, but none within its borders ever accomplished more in the way of spreading the reputation and heralding the name of the community so widespread throughout the state and beyond its borders as the Ancient Order of United Workmen. The Nebraska jurisdiction of this venerable order was organized in this city in June, 1886. Not only is Grand Island the birthplace of the Grand Lodge of this order, but its permanent home as well. In 1901 the organization purchased the splendid brick block at Second street and Wheeler avenue and established its headquarters in this city. Close to a million dollars a year is gath ered in by this Grand Lodge headquarters from the several hundred lodges through the state, and handled here, to be distributed back to the beneficiaries. Many hundreds of citizens of Grand Island and

Hall County have belonged to this order throughout the last thirty-four years.

The grand Lodge A. O. U. W. of the state of Nebraska was organized June 8, 1886 at Grand Island. It was chartered under the Supreme Lodge A. O. U. W. but became an independent jurisdiction in 1909.

It now has 7,586 members, This order since, its organization has paid in Nebraska alone, 7,000 death claims amount ing to $13,129,259.35 to January 1, 1919. In addition to the above, the organization has paid out approximately another million dollars as relief and seventy year settlements.