Lodge meetings were Oakland’s recreation and second to church activities. They held their meetings on Monday, Tuesday, Friday nights. You would find the Mason, Eastern Stars and 100F members and the Rebekahs in their Halls.
Odd fellows
The Odd Fellows received it’s charter July 13, 1910 from the English order. They meetings were held over Owl’s grocery at Wabash and Thomas. The order was the largest lodge in Kansas for many years. The lodge supported a home for the aged and for orphaned children. The home was located six miles from Manhattan near Lake Eureka near Ogden. They faithfully visited the community members on week ends.
Camera Group
The camera trail group was not a formal club but interested Oaklanders who met on Sunday afternoons. Harold Wolfe and his Nephew Harold Worswick would study and practice Photographing. The Wolfe’s did prearranging by getting permission from farmers whose creeks, bridges or barns were Photogenic. Harold Worwick was a Oaklander his father’s home was in the 700 block of Forest Ave. Mr. Worswick became the owner of Wolfe’s Camera and Video. Mr. Worswick is well known for his Photographing the 1951 flood and Arial views of Topeka. But he is best known for owning the Wolfe’s Camera and Video store. Mr. Worswick retired in the 1980’s his son Michael now runs the business.
The Priscilla Club
( 1903 )
Twice a month for over forty years the ladies of the Priscilla Club met to sew and embroider or mend and to visit and enjoy refreshments. The Priscilla Club was very active in community affairs and world happenings. Their welfare included buying bibles for the Industrial School for boys. Donating $5. to the Red cross and $3. to the Penny Ice fund. The Club in the war years would roll bandages and knit for soldiers. The Priscilla made pinafores from bleached cotton floor, feed and potato sacks, for little Belgian and Hungarian girls and filled the box’s with galosh’s , stockings and shoes. They also sent a barrel of floor to starving Europe. The club made hemstitched neckerchiefs and scarves from line and silk yardage from Mr. Longren’s Airplane factory in the old Woolen Mill. Time and change and the War saw the close of the Priscilla Club which left many a happy memories.
The Epworth League
( 1916 )
The Epworth League is and active department of the M. E. Church with over fifty members who have active relationship with the community. The devotional meetings of the league are held at 6:30 o’clock Sunday evenings. Miss Beatrioe Peak is President of the league. There Junior League is said to be among the best in the Topeka district.
Women’s Foreign Society
( 1916 )
The Women’s Foreign Missionary Society has a strong auxiliary which under the leadership of Mrs. C. H. Buck is rendering commendable service in the great cause of Missions.
Ladies Aid Society
( 1916 )
The Ladies Aid Society has figured prominently in the affairs of the church and has always been ready to render their assistance. The president is Mrs. Flora Shuler.
Women’s Suffrage
( 1894 )
This was the first organizing meeting of the advocates of equal suffrage. The Association starts with twenty members. President Mrs. C. W. Whitmore, Secretary Mrs. Pond and Treasurer Scott Kelsey.
Forestry Club
( 1907 )
The Forestry club was organized for the beautification and conservation of Oakland. The school children were giving out seedling trees and packs of flower seeds for gardening. They also planted Ornamental and shade trees. The ladies always gave the children encouragement at roll call each member gave a current event on gardening. Long-time popular President was Fausteena Paynter Guy.
Bicycle Club
(1890 )
The club took trips down shady lanes and on open roads. The trips were on week ends after a long trips in the country they would have cook-outs. They would take lunches and meats with them. The club were known as “ Wheel Fans. “ The high wheeled bikes were used by a few riders. But soon they were replaced for the standard bikes the new bikes were called Napoleon and Josephine. The prices were $15.75. The newer bikes had trouser-guard spring for the men and a chain guard for the girls. Some of the members were Iva and Frank Jordan and Katherine Service.
Lesser Known Clubs
Young Republicans
( 1892 )
The Republicans met at the school to organize a club this was there first meeting.
Politics Club
( 1892 )
A meeting was held December 18, 1892 to discuss organizing a club.
Endeorers Club
( 1905 )
The Junior Endeorers were part of the Christian Church.
Fraternal Brotherhood
( 1905 )
The brotherhood organized a lot of social fund raising events like ice cream and back sales.
Oakland’s Baseball Team
( 1894 )
On May 1, 1894 the Oakland ball team announced itself ready for engagements. The team was called the Oakland Browns later the Grays. A few years before 1891 the city council called a meeting to abolishing the ball playing on the Sabbath. Boys an man would gathered on vacant lots along Seward for ball games. The morality at the time was strict but in the end a ball team was organized.
Manager and Captain--Edw. Ridge, Pitcher--F. Thompson, 2nd. Base--A. Baughaman, 3rd. Base--W. Ely, Shortstop--F. Brindle, Left Field--J. Wilson, Right Field--C. Crommburgh-Center Field, C. Eigator, Utility Men-B. Childs and B. Ogee
Oakland’s Bass Band
The band was organized in October 1907 the band had problems from the start. One being paying for their uniforms. The cost of the uniforms of the 24-uniforms was $10. each for a total of $235. At the sign of rain they were advised to seek shelter. They need to pay the balance or loss them. The band promoted a grandiose trolley ride around Topeka at .25 cents per passenger. The train was six cars long the band took the lead car and blaring away, the tour took in $75, enough to pay the balance.
Oakland’s Kansas National Guard Band
The Oakland Band however was not the first band in Oakland. The Oakland Kansas National Guard had a band it was from Company C. Third Regiment. Not only did they play for the Guard but also for a lot Oakland’s events. The band played for the Guards from 1890-1893. The Guard was mustered out on May 23, 1893.
Notes On:
Oakland’s Business
In this book there will be a part for business of Oakland however I could not pick one over another signaling out one business for another. The business is what kept the people and the community to together. I felt no one business was more important then the other. So I have put together a Directory of Oakland’s Business. The Directory well cover the years of 1889-1930. It well have approximately seventieth Business with names and address when available.
( 1904 )
The Heardal mentioned that Oakland’s Business community was “ Substantial and not of mushroom growth.” Oakland has four Groceries, one General Merchandise Store, one Drug Store “ Which does not sell Whiskey.“ one Barber Shop, One Black Smith, four Physicians and one important if frequently Non-operating Woolen Mill employing 135 person.
Oakland’s Crimes
On Oakland’s crime I’ll just say this Oakland’s crimes was no worse then any other small town in the U. S. of the times. In this book you well find approximately thirty News story’s in various degrees. There well be a story on a “ Fur House” ,Peeping-Tom, Gambling, Theft and Larceny. I well let the News stories say it all.
Oakland’s Morality
Oakland was a church community of good God fearing family’s and their morals were high and backed by the City Council. The morality is what kept the bad influences out of Oakland. Oakland would not let spirits or liquor for any purpose to be served or sold in the city. There was a 9 o’clock curfew for the young people. It was a punishable act for any one who would do injury to any building.
Any person lighting any cigar, pipe, or match in any Barn, Stable, Cellar or building containing straw or other combustibles was subject to arrest. No professional entertainment nor Sale, Football or Baseball games was permitted on Sundays. Gambling and Prostitution were totally outlawed. Stealing was punishable by fine if over $20. value the punishment was imprisonment. No person could carry a concealed weapons including: Pistol, Slingshots, Bowie Knife, and no minor should have in his possession a Shotgun, Firearm, Air gun, Spring gun, Slingshot, Negro shooter, Toy gun or Pistols for percussion caps or cartridges or torpedoes.
This however was waived on New Year’s day, Washington’s birthday, and Christmas. The ordinance however did not apply to Gun Smiths at their trade or the shooting of dogs and domestic fowls running at large in violation of the city ordinances.
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