Centennial Gives Attleboro Moose Lodge Reason to Celebrate

Many citizens in Attleboro today might associate the Loyal Order of the Moose Family Center Lodge 463 with its annual Thanksgiving Day dinner they generously sponsor and provide for the poor, needy, lonely and senior citizen shut-ins on that holiday.

But as Moose Lodge 463 prepares to celebrate its centennial on February 19, it is certain stories of all kinds will be told and repeated on how this fraternal and service organization has intricately woven itself into the very fabric of Attleboro.

Indeed, Doug Swenson, Lodge administrator and coordinator of the 100-year birthday celebration, says the Moose Lodge Attleboro chapter is in rare company. “There are 2,000 Moose Lodges in the United States and only two or three Moose lodges are older than us in New England,” he says of the organization founded in 1888.

“We started on Pine Street before we moved to our present location which used to be the taxpayers association building,” Swenson said. 

Moose Lodge officials are asking the community for its help in making the centennial a success. Officials hope the community will be encouraged to donate, share or grant a temporary loan of materials, pictures, recordings and other paraphernalia related to the history of the organization.

But true to the social and sharing purpose of the organization, long-time member Neil LaValley says something else might be the best donation of all. “We would be glad just to hear some old stories that former members might be willing to share."

If it were possible to leave ‘Moose’ tracks where this organization has made a positive impact in the community, there would be countless ones embedded permanently.

Swenson explains service to others is the cornerstone of a Moose Lodge membership and once many members walk through the door on February 19, they will proudly display their status. “Once you are a member you automatically earn a maroon coat and then can be named as a Fellow, or light blue. The highest level of service is Pilgrim, or gold jacket. It can take many years to advance just beyond Pilgrim.”

Other causes linked with the Moose include the use of the lodge’s bocce courts to allow Special Olympians to set up leagues and receive instruction; efforts to help the Attleboro Animal Shelter with ‘Fir Ball’ and a dog walk in May, blood drives and more.

“We help out at the VA Hospital in Providence,” Swenson said, noting that there are no longer any Moose Lodges in Rhode Island. “We could always use surplus books, magazines, pencils and other materials.”

Finally, the also support Mooseheart City for needy teenagers and children in Illinois and Moosehaven in Florida, a retirement community for Moose Lodge members. Moose lodge members have fun, too. Some members participate in one-pitch softball leagues, compete in darts and when the weather gets warmer, compete outside in Bocce and horseshoe throwing.

LaValley, who has been involved in the association since 1972 in many leadership capacities, has a solid grasp of the history of the organization. He remembers John Sutcliffe being the chapter’s governor in 1972 when he joined.

“At one time Moose Lodge was bigger than the Elks,” LaValley said of the organization now consisting of about 144 members.

He recalls the annual outdoor barbecue they sponsor for the community, which is still popular and serves more than 10,000 people in a weekend, was even more well-attended in the past.

“On a weekend I remember over 25,000 people attending with 1,800 pounds of steak meet, 2,500 pounds of blade meat, over 7,000 hot dogs and hamburgers and 2,500 pounds of French fries being served.”

LaValley then recites a long list of famous individuals who have been Moose Lodge International members, past and present: U.S. Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Theodore Roosevelt; Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, Charlie Chaplin, Rocky Marciano, Jimmy Stewart, Chief Justice Earl Warren, Arnold Palmer and many more famous figures.

There have also been city mayors and officials, masons, contractors, lawyers, blue-collar and white-collar workers and citizens of all types who have been members of Moose Lodge 463 through its long and distinguished history.

The 100-year anniversary dinner of the Moose Lodge 463, located at 241 Thacher St., will be held on Feb. 19 starting at 5 p.m. with a cocktail hour followed by a dinner and special speakers at 6 p.m. and then music and dancing. Seating is limited to just 120 people. For more information and reservations, call Moose Lodge at (508) 222-9756 or email them at Lodge463@mooseunits.org.