The I.O.O.F. Hall, known locally as the Odd Fellow's Hall, or simply the Hall, was built c 1905, and currently is as close to any other building on Swan’s Island serving as a community center.  Since its construction, it has undergone several alterations: the top porch has been removed as has a set of steps that go down the righthand side of the main entrance. The third floor houses the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Rebekah Lodge, now with membership of men and women of about twenty plus people. The second story, an auditorium with a stage, seating more than two hundred and fifty, is the place where many community shows and plays are presented. The ground floor is the kitchen and dining area used for the many summer Sunday community breakfasts, and summer selectmen’s meetings, as well as a gathering spot for local fishermen to conduct their business and receive updates on their operations. 

Over the past decades, as a community center with many different purposes, it has been used for dances, social gatherings, Halloween parties, several weddings and funerals, and once hosted the annual eighth grade graduation as well as the annual town meeting. 

More recently, the Hall serves as a key community center for the entire island, year-rounders as well as summer folk.  The ever-popular community breakfasts, the many plays over the years staged by the Hocamock Players, the thirty plus year old Sweet Chariot Folk Festival, the twice a summer Open (art) Studio exhibition, and many other town events are held in the Hall, including an annual chowder cook-off and variety show. While the Hall receives a small annual stipend from the Town of Swan’s Island, the hall is independently owned, and is now in need of serious renovations to bring it up to modern safety and fire codes.

Looking Ahead

Most national Odd Fellows Halls are much smaller whereas this building, of great historic value to the Swan’s community, has more than ten thousand square feet. Following years of decline in the membership of the lodge a new membership drive recruited almost 20 new members.  And it is one of the very few lodges in the country with a growing not decreasing membership. Most current members are hard at work preserving this structure as a community resource, recently establishing a separate 501c(3) charitable foundation to receive money for the upgrading and improvement of this building. 

A small group of volunteers are starting to carry out the initial steps of this recent fund-raising effort. Thus far this summer, the recent donations were invested in a fire and safety code-analysis by a professional which resulted in a plan to remedy some obvious issues, which included: replacing old light fixtures and exit signs; installing fire blocking in the walls; ordering a fire alarm system plan and estimates; and asking the deputy sheriff and fire chief to assist us during major events. 

Now it is on us to carry this work to completion. With volunteers on the island available and some smaller donations, it is now important to support this effort by widening our appeal to more donors in order to provide these volunteers with the necessary funds to keep them motivated and empowered. Can you help us? 

- Peter Vorkink 2025