Published: July 08, 2008 12:07 am            

A new home

Fairmont Moose Lodge now open again

FAIRMONT — “We’re looking forward to being here a long time,” Patti Linn said of the Fairmont Moose Lodge’s new location, which opened Monday.

The fraternal organization had been stationed at 1000 Fairmont Ave., the former YMCA building, for more than 60 years. The lodge shut down in October of last year when the utility expenses and maintaining the building became too much to handle. Chuck Ledsome, lodge administrator, said membership declined.

The Fairmont Moose Lodge No. 9 can now be found at 80 Riverside Drive, the site of the old antique mall. The organization signed a 10-year lease and took over the facility on April 1.

Volunteers worked hard to remodel the inside of the building. The facility, which used to be an empty shell, now includes a kitchen, back bathrooms and offices. Ledsome praised the many people — including the lodge officers — who came together to make the transition happen. He said some supplies were donated for the project.

“We have moved, and we’re ready to do business,” Ledsome said.

Linn, who works in the office and oversees the social quarters, said different members stopped by the site during the remodeling process. People visited the new headquarters Monday.

The building is one floor, which allows the organization to better serve all members, Ledsome said. The family fraternity, which is involved in community service, currently has 493 members and hopes to grow that number.

“Being a fraternal organization, we are family-oriented and sponsor lots of family activities,” Linn said.

The organization wants to hold more family activities, including Bingo and Friday night dinner, at the new lodge and start daily lunch specials, she said. The property is also equipped with space for outdoor fun.

“It’s endless possibilities of what we’ll be able to do here,” Ledsome said.

The lodge will sponsor regular events and hold weekly meetings.

“We just want to make sure when anybody comes through the doors they feel welcomed (and like family),” Linn said.

The lodge just celebrated the 99th anniversary of its charter in Fairmont. It plans to have a grand-opening celebration in the near future, probably toward the end of August.

For more information, call the Fairmont Moose Lodge No. 9 at 366-2790.

E-mail Jessica Legge at jlegge@timeswv.com.

        

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