The South County Historic Society - Independent Order of Odd Fellows former Meeting Hall,…read more
has an annual fund raising event which we attend,
that occurs the first weekend in November.
[http://www.southcountyhistory.org/ioof.htm]:
"IOOF HISTORIC HALL
On the National Register of Historic Places, the former meeting hall for the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The first floor is a multi-purpose area that serves as a theatre in the summer for on-going readers theatre programs exploring stories from local history, from the Dunites to Halcyon to remembering the Village in the 1930's. The live, one-hour, free programs play every Saturday during the summer at 2PM. The huge annual rummage sale is held here the first weekend in November. Special programs during the year. 128 Bridge St., Arroyo Grande, CA 489-8282
The South County Historical Society acquired the property which was formerly the meeting place for the International Order of Odd Fellows in 1985. The hall is located at 128 Bridge Street and was built in 1902 on land donated by Mrs. Elston in 1898. The building was completed in six months at the cost of $5,500.00. A local contractor, Ben Stuart did the stone work with native sandstone which came from a quarry just south of Arroyo Grande."
In their annual rummage sale in the first weekend in November, you can donate or buy items. The fund raising event is a 2 day weekend affair & is run by a wonderful group of mainly seniors. On late Sunday, they reopen with everything at half price; later offering a "fill your own bag" for only $4.
The fund raising is to help their projects.
As you wait for them, or wish to explore, they are right next to the historic AG bridge, Kiwanis Park/AG Creek, Centennial Park, the Swinging Bridge, & more. On Saturdays at Noon, there is a Farmer's Market. AG Village is a cute restored town, that has numerous shops, antiques, diverse eats, pizza, ice-cream, coffee, wine, steak, Italian, Greek, Mexican, vintage butcher [AG Meat Co.] & bakery [Eclair]. Many of the shops are house in restored or original buildings over a century old, along with amazing ceilings [Coffee] or original woodwork. There are numerous building that are architecturally wonderful. Up the hill is an old Hoosegow [Jail & park].
You can easily spend a day exploring around here!
The South County Historic Society multiple locations in Arroyo Grande, but the Yelp or map listings are a bit perplexing, since they have different addresses & may have similar or disimiliar names.
[http://www.southcountyhistory.org/index.htm] :
1) ["SANTA MANUELA SCHOOL HOUSE
...Built in 1901 the one-room school is restored to its original state with books, maps, blackboards and photographs...
The Santa Manuela Schoolhouse a one-room schoolhouse, was built in 1901 on the property of Joseph Jatta which is now under the water of Lake Lopez...
2) " HERITAGE HOUSE GARDEN & MUSEUM
A cultural museum, housed in a Victorian cottage, depicting elements of home life and costume spanning over a hundred years, in permanent and changing exhibits. In the late 1990's, a gazebo and gardens transformed the yard into a backdrop for weddings and social events...The Heritage House was built in the late 1800's... In 1906 the house was sold to Dr. H. S. Walters and was known as "Dr. Walter's Sanatorium"...
The museum has an interesting collection of period clothing, photographs and kitchen items, just to name a few and docents are available to answer any of your questions."
3) " PAULDING HISTORY HOUSE
A registered California Historic Resource built in 1889..., it was the home of Arroyo Grande's first medical doctor, Edward Paulding. His missionary parents and his daughter, Ruth, filled the house with artifacts from around the world....countless other artifacts, among them the only authentic Cumash Indian basket in the County."
4) IOOF Historic Hall.
5) "THE BARN MUSEUM
Home to agricultural, ranch, and mercantile artifacts, vintage carriages and vehicles, including a 1923 LaFrance fire truck as well as a horse-drawn hook and ladder truck from the earliest days of the city...
The "Barn" is the South County Historical Society's Museum Annex which houses a variety of antique vehicles and agricultural artifacts from the South County area. It also houses vintage printing presses and other interesting exhibits..."
6) "PATRICIA LOOMIS HISTORY LIBRARY & RESOURCE CENTER -
RUBY'S HOUSE
Books, pamphlets, photos and other resources on local history...
This center offers teachers, students, journalists and researchers a wealth of materials on California history with a special emphasis on local South San Luis Obispo County history..."
There is more information on the societies website. Not all locations are open most weekends, nor times, and it is vital to check their website for hours, rain closings, phone, before you go....and the rummage sale is only one weekend a year, but is quite a hoot!
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