We started the Fredericksburg Eagles in 1985 in a little storefront on Caroline Street in Downtown Fredericksburg. We were able to purchase the building known as the Silver Slipper that stood on the current property in 1986. The current building was built in 1995 and is the biggest Aerie in the State of Virginia. Today we have over 2,000 combined members between the Aerie and Auxiliary.
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How It Began
On February 6, 1898, six of Seattle's most prominent theater owners gathered to discuss how to handle an ongoing musicians' strike. John Cort, brothers John W. and Thomas J. Considine, H.L. Leavitt, Mose Goldsmith and Arthur G. Williams headed down to the Moran Brothers' shipyard on South Charles Street to make a plan. According to most popular accounts, after deciding to work together to settle the strike by using piano players to replace the musicians, the men began to discuss life. At that moment, the Order of Good Things was born.
As their numbers grew, the Order chose the Bald Eagles as their official emblem and changed the name of the organization to "The Fraternal Order of Eagles, with a goal to "make human life more desirable by lessening its ills and promoting peace, prosperity, gladness and hope."
Touring theater troupes are credited with much of the Eagles' early growth. Most members were actors, stagehands and playwrights who carried the Eagles story from town to town as they traversed the United States and Canada. The group's early motto, "Skin'em," became the secret password to identify members while the official motto was changed to "Liberty, Truth, Justice and Equality."
Within 10 years of its inception, the organization boasted more than 1,800 Aeries scattered throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico with a membership exceeding 350,000. Members received free medical attention for themselves and their families, weekly payments in case of sickness and a funeral benefit - all valuable services before the widespread availability of medical, disability and life insurance.
The organization quickly became a leader in influencing national politics, pushing to create Mother's Day and eventually Social Security, Medicare and more. The Eagles' growing membership, comprised of many prominent local figures, held a position of great influence in communities everywhere.
On February 6, 1898, six of Seattle's most prominent theater owners gathered to discuss how to handle an ongoing musicians' strike. John Cort, brothers John W. and Thomas J. Considine, H.L. Leavitt, Mose Goldsmith and Arthur G. Williams headed down to the Moran Brothers' shipyard on South Charles Street to make a plan. According to most popular accounts, after deciding to work together to settle the strike by using piano players to replace the musicians, the men began to discuss life. At that moment, the Order of Good Things was born.
As their numbers grew, the Order chose the Bald Eagles as their official emblem and changed the name of the organization to "The Fraternal Order of Eagles, with a goal to "make human life more desirable by lessening its ills and promoting peace, prosperity, gladness and hope."
Touring theater troupes are credited with much of the Eagles' early growth. Most members were actors, stagehands and playwrights who carried the Eagles story from town to town as they traversed the United States and Canada. The group's early motto, "Skin'em," became the secret password to identify members while the official motto was changed to "Liberty, Truth, Justice and Equality."
Within 10 years of its inception, the organization boasted more than 1,800 Aeries scattered throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico with a membership exceeding 350,000. Members received free medical attention for themselves and their families, weekly payments in case of sickness and a funeral benefit - all valuable services before the widespread availability of medical, disability and life insurance.
The organization quickly became a leader in influencing national politics, pushing to create Mother's Day and eventually Social Security, Medicare and more. The Eagles' growing membership, comprised of many prominent local figures, held a position of great influence in communities everywhere.
For years, women were accompanying male members of the Order to social events. As early as 1914, women were in attendance for the organization's Grand Aerie Convention, eventually inspiring them to being their own wing of the Eagles - the Ladies' Auxiliary.
Pressure increased to formally recognize the Auxiliary and in January 1926, sitting Grand Worthy President Charles C. Guenther issued an Official Circular explaining that the time had come for definite action in regard to the formal creation of the Auxiliary.
When the Eagles assembled for the 28th annual Grand Aerie Convention in August 1926, delegates formally approved the formation of the Ladies' Auxiliary. On August 14, 1952, Past Grand Worthy President Lester Loble of Montana served as the instituting deputy for the Grand Auxiliary. Because Alta Browning Smith was a primary contributor in the organizing and instituting of the Grand Auxiliary, she was appointed the first Grand Madam President.
Pressure increased to formally recognize the Auxiliary and in January 1926, sitting Grand Worthy President Charles C. Guenther issued an Official Circular explaining that the time had come for definite action in regard to the formal creation of the Auxiliary.
When the Eagles assembled for the 28th annual Grand Aerie Convention in August 1926, delegates formally approved the formation of the Ladies' Auxiliary. On August 14, 1952, Past Grand Worthy President Lester Loble of Montana served as the instituting deputy for the Grand Auxiliary. Because Alta Browning Smith was a primary contributor in the organizing and instituting of the Grand Auxiliary, she was appointed the first Grand Madam President.