The IOOF Hall (Independent Order of Odd Fellows) is located on the corner of Main Street and Kelly Avenue.
The first IOOF lodge in British Columbia was instituted in Victoria on March 10, 1864. Summerland received its charter in 1908.
The first lodge meetings were held on the second floor in the Empire Hall in Summerland’s Lowertown and sometimes at Elliot’s Hall.
The Odd Fellows acquired the building from Judge W.C. Kelley in 1935. The building became the IOOF Hall and is now co-owned with Faith Rebekah #32.
The building was originally located in Summerland’s Lowertown.
In 1907, George Gartrell constructed this concrete block building on Ninth Street, also called Chinamen Gulch (the Chinese laundry was across the street) and now is called Gowans Avenue.
This building was multi-purposed and included the Gartrell Meat market, a drug store and a dress-making shop.
In 1921, Kelley purchased the building, dismantled it and moved it to its present location.
According to municipal records, at that time, the street name was spelled “Kelley.”
Wellington Kelley (1873-1950) was a Summerland lawyer and became a judge in 1928. He leased the building to a number of tenants over the years, including doctors and dentists, George Inglis, Butler and Walden and the building also served as our post office. Judge Kelley sold the building to the IOOF in 1935.
Over the years, the IOOF Hall has served as a centre for many many community events.
