Intelligencer Journal/Lancaster New Era

Red Men and other amusements

Men joined lodges a century ago for two reasons, notes Vera Albert in her new booklet of Mount Joy history, "Leisure Time in the 1800s & Early 1900s.''

·Weekly dues went to the widow when a lodge member died.

·Lodge membership gave men something to do.

The Scribbler would add detail to the second reason: Lodge membership gave men a pretty good excuse to get away from their families at least once a week.

In the late 19th century, there were nine "secret societies'' in Mount Joy. These included the Masons, Odd Fellows and other well-known lodges.

Among them was the Improved Order of Red Men, founded in Mount Joy in 1860.

The Red Men were part of a national fraternity of white men dedicated to venerating American Indians even as the U.S. Army sought to wipe them out in the American West.

Red Men dressed in Indian regalia for special occasions.

In 1918, the "Reddies'' of Mount Joy's Otasago Tribe No. 59 organized a musical band.

Albert's history covers the nine lodges, their bands and sports -- three of the activities many men participated in a century ago.

Meanwhile, women, she writes, "stayed home or went visiting.''

This booklet, the 14th written by Albert and 17th published by the Mount Joy Area Historical Society, includes 14 photos of old bands, lodges and sports teams.

It can be purchased for $10 at the society's museum, 120 Fairview St., open from 1 to 4 p.m. each Sunday. Also at Sloan's Pharmacy, 61 E. Main St.

Paleoartist lived in Lancaster

The current issue of Natural History Magazine features Jay Matternes, a prominent paleoartist.

Matternes spent some of his early years in Lancaster.

Matternes' artistic subjects include representations of fossil remains or depictions of ancient living creatures and their ecosystems.

Matternes, who lives in Fairfax, Va., has illustrated articles for National Geographic Magazine, World Book and other publications.

He has shown his paintings in galleries in New York, Denver and Annapolis.

The Scribbler emailed Matternes, who provided this account of his early life and Lancaster associations.

Born in the Philippines in 1933, Matternes was the son of Lawrence A. Matternes, an Army surgeon and later a surgeon with the Pennsylvania Railroad, and Janet G. Bryson Matternes.

His mother was born and raised in Lancaster, the daughter of Dr. Howard Bryson, a general practitioner at 148 N. Lime St.

"When World War II broke out, my family was living in Panama and we were evacuated to the States, since a Japanese attack on the canal and the Canal Zone was a very real possibility,'' Matternes writes.

His father was reassigned to Europe and, suddenly, his family had no place to live. So they moved in with Dr. Bryson for the duration of the war.

Matternes attended Hambright Elementary School and served as a choirboy at St. James Episcopal Church.

Following the war, Matternes' family reunited and moved from Army base to base until the Korean War, when his father again was assigned to military duty and the rest of the family moved back in with Dr. Bryson.

Matternes graduated from Manor-Millersville High School in 1951 and studied fine art at Carnegie University before beginning his career.

"The bond I have with your city and county during those happy years of early development remains,'' he observes.

For example, Matternes says he is still loyal to Turkey Hill ice cream.

Speaking of golf outings...

"I have not seen Village Greens Miniature Golf mentioned,'' writes Kenny Myers, chief operating officer of Kegel's Produce, "as a possible golfing location for Vice President Joe Biden.''

·The Scribbler welcomes comments and contributions at jbrubaker@lnpnews.com or 291-8781.

In the late 19th century, there were nine "secret societies'' in Mount Joy.