Mills County, Iowa

Silver City Community History
1879 - 1979

EASTERN STAR

On September 23, 1927, Silver City Chapter No. 536 was instituted through the efforts of Sister Gertrude May of Shenandoah, Iowa, and much correspondence of Brother John Dovenspike, Secretary of the Silver City Mason’s Lodge and the Grand Secretary of the Masonic Lodge of Iowa through all of which our work of instituting had to be carried on. On that afternoon, Silver City Chapter met in special session to be instituted by Malvern Officers. The following were charter members: Hazel Bobbitt, Ethel Burgoin, Grace Dovenspike, Allie Humston, Chester Johnson, Emma Markel, Nellie Murphy, Lottie Talboy, Mae Burgoin, Zylphia Coiner, John Dovenspike, Florence Lawson, John Moore, Dorothy Miller, Ida McCue, Mary Swarts, Marshall Humston, Eldon Burgoin, Cora Spelbring, Addie Tucker, Gertrude Clipson, Alice Moore and Frankie Johnson.

First appointed were Dorothy Miller, Worthy Matron and Marshall Humston, Worthy Patron. Election of regular officers were Dorothy Miller, Worthy Matron and J.B. Dovenspike, Worthy Patron.

In 1953 the Masonic Lodge and Eastern Star Chapter bought the Kirlin Building. Through the donations and labor of members, we remodeled the building. Through a dispensation of the Masonic Grand Lodge and the Grand Chapter of the Eastern Star, we were able to have our chapter room on the first floor.

In 1977 we celebrated our fifty years as a chapter. We were honored to have our Grand Worthy Matron Sister, Vera Mae Baker, present. We also honored three fifty- years members, Hazel Bobbitt, Dorothy Miller, and Eldon Burgoin. In 1979 we honored two more fifty-years members, Genevieve Sell Kruse and Earl Bobbitt.

~submitted by Roseanna Zehner & Darlene Jacoby