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Podcast Episode: 460

The Forgotten Club That Once Had 1 Million Members

By Army of Normal Folks

August 21, 2026 20 min

The Forgotten Club That Once Had 1 Million Members

In this Shop Talk, Bill and Alex dive into the odd history of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows – one of the largest organizations most Americans have never heard of. At their peak, they had over a million members and thousands of lodges across the country. They cared for widows and orphans, built hospitals, and more than 800 cemeteries. And then, slowly, they disappeared.

If you’ve ever wondered why community feels harder to find than it used to – or why civic life seems to be quietly fading – this episode might be the most important conversation you hear this week. It’s a history lesson that hits surprisingly close to home.

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