Great News
Things are changing at our Lodge, so please hang in there with us. We have Mindy Schwartze, is our new person in the kitchen fixing meals on Tuesday,Thursday and Friday nights. She does a great job! 

Moose Family Center Children’s Fund


Monetary donations are used for fun activities for Moose member’s families. Several children’s parties are held each year, such as: Easter, Halloween, Back-To-School and Christmas. Other activities include: game day, craft parties and even rides in an restored antique fire engine.

Moose Family Center Building Fund

After years of faithful service the Lodge went through a much needed facelift this year. New windows, siding and roof have transformed our leaky building into the queen of Lake Manitou once again. New signage and a coat of paint on the retaining wall have added that final touch that should make all members proud. Now that the exterior is complete we have moved onto remodeling projects of the interior. With the roof repaired and no more leaks the Ladies restroom along with the Lobby Entrance and Administrators office ceiling have been repaired and redecorated. Please consider donating your time, supplies, expertise or monetary contributions to help further our ongoing quest to renovate this Rochester & Lake Manitou landmark.



Social Quarters Hours:

Monday-Thursday 11AM to 10PM
Friday and Saturday 11AM to 11PM
Open Sundays - 12 Noon to 8PM
Phone: 574-223-3914

Map


The Moose Family Center #1107
is located on beautiful Lake Manitou in Rochester, Indiana

Local Lodge History by Jack K. Overmyer

The West Side Hotel in 1908

Manitou Lodge 1107, Loyal Order of Moose, was organized 93 years ago on August 30, 1912, at the Eagles Hall which was located on the top floor of the Zimmerman Brothers Furniture Store, southwest corner of Main and Sixth Street.

The lodge quite likely continued to meet at the Eagles Hall until February 20, 1917, when the Moose purchased for its home the second floor of the building at 116 East Eighth Street, now occupied by The Rochester Sentinel.

The second floor was bought for $1,600 from the Redmen Lodge which was becoming inactive after 12 years. In only four years of existence, the Moose had 187 members and was one of the city’s largest organizations.

On January 15, 1924, the Moose purchased the two-story Academy of Music building at the southwest corner of Main and Fifth Streets for its lodge home. A new heating system and electric lights for the entire building were to be installed.

The lodge paid about $5,000 to the estate of William Davidson who had built the Academy of Music in 1875. For more than 40 years it was the theatrical center of the city, hosting touring actors and entertainers. The lodge occupied the upper floor of the building, renting the lower floor to retail businesses. On October 25, 1941, the Moose purchased the Manitou Lodge building on the north shore of Lake Manitou from Mrs. Edna Foy and remodeled it for the lodge home.

Its location is the site today of the Jasper Dulin residence. In 1948, the West Side Hotel was put up for sale, having been a fixture on the lake for 70 years. Moose officials seized this opportunity to give lodge members a permanent home, which in fact it has become.