By Mike Rainone for the News
The Order of the Royal Purple No. 27 was instituted in Ponoka on September 27, 1927 with Levica Morgan as the first Honoured Royal Lady and 30 members in place.
Since that time the very dedicated and active Ladies Auxiliary of the local BPO Elks Lodge have been proudly serving and supporting the town and county districts of Ponoka in so many wonderful ways for citizens and families of all ages. Although their membership numbers have dropped somewhat in these later years they are still full of enthusiasm and are hoping to encourage another generation of members to come on board and carry on their long-standing traditions of community service as they head into their 92nd year.
A long and colourful history
As reported in the Ponoka Panorama History book in 1973 our Order of the Royal Purple had 58 members and past Honoured Royal Lady Eleanor Cooper was the only founding member remaining on the roll call. Like most very active organizations in those early days the initial meetings were held in the Lodge Room above the Ponoka Co-operative Store on 51st Avenue or where-ever there was an open spot, but then the OORP ladies were thrilled in 1929 when the magnificent BPO #102 Elk’s Memorial Hall was opened on Chipman Avenue. During those tough and trying 1930s the hall not only provided the Ponoka district with a friendly community centre, but also hosted countless year round activities that contributed to the betterment of life in the community for families and individuals of all ages and walks of life.
Along the way the Elks and the Royal Purple worked diligently together to organize and promote so many exciting and enjoyable fund-raising activities that would allow them to support community groups such as Ponoka Minor Hockey teams, host the delightful May 24th Kiddies Day, and on and on. The annual Saturday night dances at the Elk’s Hall were one of the social highlights of the residents of urban and rural districts of Ponoka and beyond, especially through the rugged War years. Other organizations and vital causes supported by the BPOE. Elks and Royal Purple Lodges were the Red Cross, CNIB, and Purple Cross fund for crippled children and many others.
After many successful decades of service and successes the membership of the Elks Lodge dropped from over 300 to 50, and in 1966 due to higher taxation and high expenses the historical Memorial Hall was sold. Part of the receipts of the sale was given to the Order of the Royal Purple, whose help and support had been enjoyed and appreciated by the Elks over the years, and the OORP ladies have passionately carried on their service to the community. Their ongoing and always ambitious fundraising included bingos, plays, and events that enabled them to offer generous support to sports teams and organizations, as well as presenting an annual scholarship at every Ponoka Composite High School Graduation ceremony. There have been hundreds of dedicated ladies who have faithfully served as active and dedicated members of the OORP Royal Purple Lodge for over nine exciting decades, and the Honoured Royal Ladies who led the way have included: Levica Morgan (1927-28), Sarah Larsen (1928-29), Victoria Longman (1929-30), Marg Williams (1930-31-37-38), Florence Richmond (1931-32-78-79-86-87), Leona Bures (1933-34), Ethel Murphy 1935-36), Ellen Kleckner (1936-37), Alice Coote (1938-39), Lois Carter (1939-40-47-48), Irene Creighton (1932-33), Martha Rad (1940-41), Eleanor Cooper (1941-42), Rachelle Farrell (1942-43), Ruby Hinkley (1943-44), Gertrude Slater (1944-45), Gertrude Krefting (1945-46-47, 47-51, 49-50, Jean Thomsen (1948-49), Rose Matthews (1950-51), Dorothy Krefting (1951-52), Violet Rees (1952-53-54), Ethel Lux (1954-55) Thelma Lloyd (1955-56), Lee Kleckner (1956-57), Emily Jones (1957-58), Alma Hagemann (1958-59-66-67), Grace James (1959-60), Shirley Lea (1961-62), Maude Service (1962-63), Verona Boddy (1963-64), Lucille Mickey (1964-69), Lila Avison (1965-66), Audrey Brooke (1960-61), and on and on into the future.
As the Order of the Royal Purple Lodge #27 avidly continue to carry on their longstanding traditions of addressing the needs of our community by assisting families, children, sports groups, and other charities, they are also putting out the welcome mat to the ladies of our town and county to consider becoming a member to assure that they can carry on their strong community support into the future. Over the past five years the OORP have graciously donated an amazing total of $62, 782.00 to local organizations and projects such as: Ponoka Wheelchair Van Society, Big Brothers and Sisters, Ponoka Youth Centre, Ponoka Gymnastics, Ponoka FCSS, Ponoka Royal Purple School Scholarship, Rimoka Lodge Comfort Fund, Ponoka Food Bank, Santa’s Anonymous, Centennial Centre, patient Christmas party, Ponoka Legion veterans, Ronald McDonald House, Stollery Children’s Hospital, iSTAR, Camp HeHoHa, STARS Air Ambulance, Compassion House, Alberta Cancer Society, and the Central Alberta Woman’s Shelter. If you are interested in joining this friendly and dedicated ‘caring and sharing’ community team please give Debbie Lamey a call at 403-704-6561 or email: dadlamey@telus.net for more information. The Royal Purple Lodge is located at 5901-Highway 2A Ponoka.
Editor’s note:
Over the weekend the Royal Purple had an open house with the national representative Sandy Laghey in attendance. Five new members joined the group. The members are looking for a new location to meet as the Elk’s Hall is no longer available for Royal Purple meetings.