NEW CASTLE, Ky. — New Castle is home to one of the oldest African American fraternal organizations in the country, and for years its members have fought to salvage and preserve a vital piece of its history.
What You Need To Know
New Castle is a town steeped in American history. The seat of Henry County was founded in 1798, only a few years after Kentucky became a state. Visitors will notice several buildings and homes dating back to the community’s earliest days. New Castle is also home to The Grand United Order of Odd Fellows.
“We are the oldest group in the state of Kentucky, established in 1872,” Odd Fellows member Richard Smith told Spectrum News.
Washington Lodge #1513 was born out of the American Reconstruction, founded by former slaves. The Odd Fellows became a hub for Black families in Kentucky, building a network of support and community pride.
Smith has been a shepherd and curator of the history of this lodge.
“We came together to help our community, to help the widows of our community and to help the orphans and the sick,” he said.
But in 2015, Mother Nature dealt the Odd Fellows a major blow. Heavy snow collapsed the roof of the group’s historic lodge building. Even with a temporary roof, the lodge fell into major disrepair. The building is gutted, floorboards are rotted or gone, weeds and tall grass grow out of the ground throughout the injured building.
“This is the building, what’s left of it. Yes, sir. This is due to the roof caving in. This is the after result,” Smith said.
For 10 years, Smith and his Odd Fellows brothers have lobbied for help to repair and preserve their lodge, which is much more than an old brick building.
“Really, a significant part of Kentucky history that we need to save. The easiest thing would have been just to bulldoze it. That would have been the cheapest, easiest thing but, you know, when you when you bulldoze or eliminate something, you eliminate part of your history,” Jeff Thoke said.
Thoke was New Castle’s Main Street Manager at the time of the collapse and made a promise to help the Odd Fellows restore their lodge no matter how long it took.
“1872—the Civil War just ended seven years before that. They formed their own Odd Fellows group because they could not partake with the whites because of segregation,” Thoke said.
The lodge was also home to New Castle’s only barbershop for Black residents.
“I came and got my haircut on Saturday. That was my daddy’s responsibility, bringing me here every two weeks to get my haircut,” Smith said.
For 10 years, the fate of the lodge has hung in the balance until earlier this summer when member Richard Smith was notified that the Odd Fellows are receiving a grant for $100,000 from the Kentucky Heritage Council to renovate their first floor.
“We want to thank the people who put forth the effort to write the grant. I want to thank my daughter, who did put forth a continuous effort,” Smith said.
302 South Main Street is a crucial piece of Kentucky history and one step closer to being preserved for generations to come. The first-floor renovation is only the first phase of the building’s preservation project, and Odd Fellows members are seeking additional grants and donations to complete work on the second floor.
Correction: A previous version of this story mislabeled the Kentucky Heritage Council. This error has been corrected. (Aug. 21, 2025)