I'm fairly new to this list. Can anyone identify an organization called "U. O. of G. C."? I found it listed in the Newton Blue Book for 1910, on page 246, among the "Secret and Benevolent Organizations". The full listing reads as follows: "Crescent Commandery No. 86 U. O. of G. C. Meets second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at A. O. U. W. hall." I do know that the AOUW was (perhaps still is) the Ancient Order of United Workmen, but the UO of GC has me stumped. Can anybody help? Thanks!! Geoff Brown

Hi Geoff, It was through that fraternal organization that my parents met ! The United Order of the Golden Cross !! They belonged to the George A. JOHNSON Chapter, which was based in Somerville, I believe, and they remained in the organization until it was fading out. At that time, it was taken over by the much larger fraternal organization, the Woodmen of the World !! And, even then my mother and her older sister remained active, but, when the dozen or so people were all around 80, they decided it was time to close the chapter. During the 1940's and 1950's, my family was very active in the very active Chapter. There were monthly meetings, and many activities, including an annual dinner / dance at a large Hall in Lynn, and an annual picnic at the State Park in Ashby / Townsend, and an annual Christmas party for the kids. I think it was around 1960 when things started fading down ! When I tried to find out more about the origin of the organization a few years ago, I'm pretty sure I found a web site listing the names of "all" fraternal organizations. And, I'm fairly sure I found a brief-description of the United Order of the Golden Cross on some web site. Later this morning I'll try to find those web sites again ! Betty (near Lowell, MA) ----- Original Message ----- From: "Geoffrey Brown" <geoff@betweenthelakes.com> To: <MAMIDDLE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, April 26, 2006 11:16 AM Subject: UO of GC > I'm fairly new to this list. > > Can anyone identify an organization called "U. O. of G. C."? > > I found it listed in the Newton Blue Book for 1910, on page 246, among the > "Secret and Benevolent Organizations". The full listing reads as follows: > > "Crescent Commandery No. 86 > U. O. of G. C. > Meets second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at A. O. U. W. hall." > > I do know that the AOUW was (perhaps still is) the Ancient Order of United > Workmen, but the UO of GC has me stumped. Can anybody help? > > Thanks!! > > Geoff Brown > > ______________________________