Le Mars Eagles Club celebrates 100th anniversary

The Le Mars Eagles Club has called their location at 104 First Ave. S.W. home since they purchased the property in 1914. The club moved into their new facility in 1932, and remain there today. (Sentinel photo by Beverly Van Buskirk) [Click to enlarge]

When members of Eagles Liberty Aerie 1381 gather Saturday evening, April 22, they will celebrate 100 years as an organization in Le Mars. Following the members dinner and initiation ceremonies, the Eagles will host an auction, open to the public, to raise funds for the Iowa Eagles state charity project for 2006.

Jim Burnett of the Le Mars Eagles organization serves as state president through June 2006, and feels it's a unique thing to be serving as state Eagles president as his own Aerie is celebrating its 100th anniversary.

Burnett was instrumental in the selection of this year's Eagles statewide charity, diabetes education and research.

Eagles Clubs and Auxiliaries across Iowa will raise funds to donate to the University of Iowa for diabetes education and research.The cause is one that is dear to Burnett's heart.

"My son was diagnosed with diabetes on his fifth birthday," said Burnett. "He's 32 now and the help we received in education on diabetes from the University was great. They did a lot for us."

"This isn't just about juvenile diabetes. We want to help young and old, who have diabetes, and help the parents of children who are diabetic," Burnett said.

After talking with doctors at the University of Iowa Hospitals about the Eagles fundraising efforts, a doctor there has carried their plan a step further. He and the Eagles hope the funds can serve as seed money for a diabetes center at the University of Iowa.

"That's a way that we can help everyone," Burnett said. He sees getting information out to the public about diabetes as a very important part of their cause.

The auction, which is set to begin at 7 p.m. and is open to the public, will include a large array of items from area businesses and individuals. Some items donated include a framed crocheted eagle and flag; an eagle afghan for a full-size bed; a year's supply of dog food from Le Mars Agri-Center; a gas grill; several collectible farm toys; gas certificates from Hentges Oil; lawn fertilizer certificates from Agriliance; model cars from Nuebel Chevrolet as well as numerous gift certificates and other merchandise.

A special guest at the dinner will be Michael Duehr of Dubuque, Grand Worthy Outside Guard of the Fraternal Order of Eagles.

His father and mother were Bell-Ringing State Presidents in Iowa, so it's no surprise that Michael Duehr has followed in their footsteps as a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He, too, won the coveted Bell-Ringer award when he was President of the Iowa State Aerie, and at the 2005 Grand Aerie Convention in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Duehr's Eagle career took a giant leap forward when he was elected to the post of Grand Outside Guard.

A salesman by occupation, Duehr has been selling the Eagles since he joined Dubuque, Iowa Aerie 568 in 1963. 'My passion and love for this organization, and my convictions about what the Eagles stand for, are the things that drive me in life," he says. Duehr and wife Patricia have one child. "Music, life and people" are his main interests and hobbies, says Mike, who as Grand Outside Guard intends to "emphasize the art of communicating our Eagle message" to the membership and the rest of the world.

There are approximately 400 members of the Le Mars Eagles, and 100 Auxiliary members.

"It's hard to get younger people to join the Eagles," Burnett said. "Our membership is older and we're losing members. I know it's tough to make the commitment, but it's very worthwhile. We're always open to to new members."

When the Eagles organization was first founded in 1898, it was formed as an organization dubbed "The Order of Good Things."

The mission of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, an international, non-profit organization, unites fraternally in the spirit of liberty, truth, justice and equality, to make human life more desirable by lessening its ills, and by promoting peace, prosperity, gladness and hope.

Just as their founding fathers set out to "do good things," the Le Mars chapter has reached out to its members and community through the years, with charitable acts of kindness.

"We support Little League, area proms, the Christian Needs Center, the fire department, and other local charities," said Burnett.

Funds for their local support is raised in a variety of ways, including weekly bingo, fish suppers during Lent and other dinners throughout the year, and by renting their facilities to members of the community.

Once a closed club, the club now serves noon meals in the bar area which are open to the public, a practice started in the mid 1980s.

On the national level, uniting in brotherhood the Eagles have fought to make necessary social change. The Eagles initiated Mother's Day as a national holiday in 1904. They sponsored America's first workman's compensation law in 1911 and sponsored america's first Old Age Pension Law in 1923, and supported enactment of the Social Security Law in 1935.

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A brief history of the Le Mars Eagles Club

The Le Mars Eagles, Liberty Aerie 1381 was issued its charter to become a new member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles on April 11, 1906. There were 58 members.

Their first home was the Washington Hall, which stood at the corner of what is now Central Avenue and First Street North, site of First National Bank building today.

They moved to new quarters in November 1904 to the second floor of the Reichmann Building at the corner of Main & 6th Street (current location of the Hi-Lite at Central Avenue and Plymouth Street Southeast.) In 1909 they rented the W.O.W. Hall, and in 1911, they rented the Chas Flougher Rooms for three years.

In April 1914, the club approved the purchase of property known as the Farmer's Hotel located on Eagle Street, the property where the club is now located.

During World War I (July 28-1914-Nov. 11, 1918), 32 Brothers from the Le Mars Aerie served military duty. The Aerie purchased many War Bonds to support the troops.

A motion was made and carried on June 6, 1918, that no foreign language be spoken in the club or Aerie rooms.

Contracts for a new building were awarded in September 1931. The building was finally completed and moved into in 1932, with a total cost of $32,802.92. Lawrence Welk played for the grand opening in the fall of 1932, according to club records.

Again during World War II, the club purchased many War Bonds to support the troops. Eighty-eight members of the Aerie served their country during this time.

The Le Mars Eagles Aerie joined the Northwest District Aeries (now called the Tall Corn District) in March 1940.

Remodeling of the basement was first done in 1954. In 1962, the Bar Room was remodeled. The Eagle statute, which stands in front of the building, was added to the grounds in December 1968. A new Card Key System was installed in November 1972 with all paid up members having a card to enter.

New combination windows were installed in 1973.

A kitchenette was put in the back room behind the Bar area in 1979.

(This information provided by a program of the 75th anniversary of the Le Mars Eagles Club.)