To the editor:

The Loyal Order of the Moose is committed to celebrating life together, serving local communities, supporting children in need who deserve a second chance, and standing by our senior members as they enter their later years. With over 1,400 communities across nearly 50 states, four Canadian provinces, and Great Britain, the Moose Fraternity impacts lives far and wide. One of its key missions is to support Mooseheart Child City & School, which provides care for children in need, from infancy through high school, giving them a fresh start. Another vital mission is the care of senior members at Moosehaven, a five-star retirement community in Florida, funded entirely by Moose members. The organization also contributes between $75 and $100 million annually in community service to local areas.

At our local lodges, you’ll find a variety of activities for individuals and families alike, including holiday parties, dances, sports, themed dinners, and live entertainment. There’s always something to enjoy with the Moose!

The Loyal Order of Moose was founded in Louisville, Kentucky, in the spring of 1888 by Dr. John Henry Wilson as a social club for men. By the fall of 1906, the Order had dwindled to only two lodges in Indiana. On Oct. 27 of that year, James J. Davis became the 247th member. A Welsh immigrant and iron puddler who worked in Pennsylvania’s steel mills, Davis was also an active labor organizer and later served as U.S. Secretary of Labor in the Harding administration. He saw the Order as a way to offer a social safety net to working-class members through an affordable membership fee. At the 1906 national convention, he was appointed “Supreme Organizer” and, along with a team of recruiters, helped expand the Order to nearly half a million members and 1,000 lodges by 1912.

The Saranac Lake Moose Lodge #457, established in 1921, is a private organization welcoming both men and women dedicated to helping children in need, seniors, veterans, and local organizations in the Tri-Lakes area. It is the only Moose Lodge in the Adirondack Park and regularly contributes to community causes, reflecting the Moose’s spirit of service and support.

For more information about the Moose and how to become a member, contact the Lodge at 518-891-0045 or email mooselodge457@gmail.com.

Greg Hayes

Saranac Lake Moose Lodge board director

Lake Placid