Odd Fellows Home

Odd Fellows Home. In June 1920, the State Lodge of Odd Fellows and Rebekahs announced that a home for orphans and the elderly would be built on the 13-acre Beebe Homestead in Safford. Construction started in December from plans drawn by architect William Bray of Tucson at an estimated cost of $60,000. The center portion of the planned larger facility was completed by Gratz Brown of Safford for $38,000. The additional two wings were never completed. The grand opening was held April 25, 1922., The construction is Tudor Revival with concrete foundations, locally burned brick, stone belt courses, stone door and window surrounds and a gable roof with two cross gables at the rear. The front porch is graced by four front and two side arches. A seal highlights the top pediment and open oriels with sculpture adorn the porch sides., For 25 years, the facility served as a home for elderly convalescents and 33 orphans and half orphans. Garden crops, an orchard and farm animals were raised on the grounds. The building was used as a meeting and social hall after 1953. The City of Safford acquired the building and used it as the Safford Public Library from 1963 until 1991. The upper floor housed the Graham County Historical Society from 1965 until 1999., A restoration study was completed in 1993 and the "Save Old Safford" committee was formed to gather restoration ideas. The Mayor's Historic Restoration Committee began preliminary work in 1995 with an allocated $50,000. Grants by the city and state followed., Windows were repaired. Rain gutters and a storage shed were removed. 1997-98 saw the front porch taken down, a new foundation provided, the original blocks recast, and the porch replaced. New railings were placed and reconstruction of statues of Rebekah at the Well and the Good Samaritan for the porch alcoves began., Interior restoration began in 2000 and the City of Safford moved offices into the facility. Some rooms are available for public use. Landscaping and outdoor features have been improved. Restoration is continuing., The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. . This historical marker was erected by City of Safford. It is in Safford in Graham County Arizona