International Rabbit 11/24/2011

The IOOF Monument

By Janet Iles

This striking monument or cenotaph is located northeast of the Mausoleum in Greenwood Cemetery, Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada.

The three link chain is the symbol of the fraternal organization, Independent Order of Oddfellows, (IOOF). It represents Friendship (white link), Love (blue link) and Truth (scarlet link). The IOOF and the Rebekas (the female counterpart) erected this monument after the First World War.

Of the twelve men listed on the plaque, two men were from Knox: Roy Brown McKenzie and Charles Edgar Orford.

In 1977, Carol Anne Holder interviewed Richard Neath as part of an oral history project at the Owen Sound Public Library. One of the key subjects he talked about was the IOOF. The support material included an article “Lest We Forget”. After the end of the war, IOOF Lodges 180 and 441 formed a special committee to make recommendations for a suitable memorial.

. . . a square tapering monument, built with native field stone was decided upon. Volunteer help headed by Bro. Geo. Darby, P.G. dug the excavation for the case and other members spent afternoons and evenings gathering rocks and field stones which were hauled to the site on a truck donated by Bro. R. A. Breckenridge. Bro. C. H. Thompson was able to secure cement and the necessary aggregate for a nominal sum to pour the base, which would require approximately 24 cubic yards of concrete. This was all done by members of the order and resulted in a lot of sore muscles and some blisters as machinery for mixing concrete in those days has long been outdated. The building of the monument was placed in [the] hands of a local stone mason by the name of Mr. Wm. Malcolm, who was without a doubt a master craftsman, especially with field stone. A recess was left on the West side of the monument to place a suitable bronze tablet on which the names of the members of the order who gave their lives during world war one was cast.[i]

Unfortunately, no date of dedication is given.

This monument was recently refurbished. The November 7, 2011 issue of the Sun Times (Owen Sound) says that the cenotaph was erected in 1920. The two local groups that spearheaded the original project no longer exist. Members of the group joined the Wiarton based IOOF Spirit Rock Lodge 312. This lodge applied for federal funding for the restoration work.[ii]

This striking monument is a reminder to visitors to the cemetery of the sacrifices made by these young men.

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[i] R. H. Neath, P. G., P.D. D. G. M., "Lest we Forget" in the supporting material for an oral interview conducted on 15 March  1977 for the Owen Sound Public Library conducted by Carol Anne Holder.

[ii] Bill Henry, “IOOF cenotaph saved from ‘falling apart,’ The Sun Times (Owen Sound), 7 November 2011, p. A6.