Members were unpleasantly surprised January 8 to find the doors locked and a sign indicating Barnesville Eagles Aerie Lodge #4252 was "permanently closed" and the club’s charter was revoked by the Grand Aerie Lodge headquartered in Grove City, Ohio.
The Facebook page for the lodge last week revealed, lodge and auxiliary members were active collecting signatures to appeal the decision. "The appeal for reconsideration can be signed at Turk’s (Trophy Shop) until Jan. 18," noted one post.
"A separate signature sheet was requested by Auxiliary members to show solidarity and support. It will be dropped off at Turks Jan. 12."
The Enterprise reached out to an active member for additional details this past week. It is not believed a formal letter spelling out the reasons for the revocation has yet been received by current lodge leadership. Members are not certain if arrival of the letter or the January 8 posting of the sign on the lodge hall at 137 E. Main begins an appeal period.
Another lodge Facebook post, however, notes "People have contacted the Grand Aerie and they are appealing. There is a 60-day appeal time."
Without providing additional details, the member acknowledged internal disagreements are likely responsible for the revocation.
Eagles Aerie #4252 was formed in 1987 when the new lodge purchased the former Kirk’s furniture store building on E. Main Street. Records of the Belmont County Auditor reveals the building is owned by "Fraternal Order of Eagles Lodge Number 4252" with the tax payer address the local lodge hall. The property is currently assessed at $112,590.
The lodge uses the former furniture store side of the building while the Kirk’s Women’s Shop side is subleased to DG Dance Workshop & Gymnastics LLC owned and operated by Leah Pastva.
The Enterprise reached out to the Grand Aerie headquarters in Grove City but did not receive a response by our copy deadline.
The Barnesville community is no stranger to the Eagles. Barnesville Lodge #937 was organized here in 1905. According to Dr. D.O. Sheppard’s The Story of Barnesville "for several years during their early existence, they met the room over George Giffen’s Drug Store (125 W. Main, today’s Chel’s hair salon). In 1923, they purchased the mansion of the late G.E. Bradfield at 123 N. Chestnut Street. The mansion was severely damaged in a fire in 1948. The old residence was demolished and replaced with a new lodge home, the current Barnesville Elks Lodge.
By the early 1980s, the Eagles dwindled in numbers and folded. A few years later, when successful efforts to form the current lodge were undertaken, an entirely new organization and lodge number was assigned by the Grand Aerie.
Read the Enterprise for updates on this story as they develop.