Mtn. Review Special Edition Late Summer 2020 | Page 8

Fraternal Organizations
Contributing to MV’s
History for Generations
By Jerry Steach
MVHA Member
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in the May
2020 issue of the Old Mountain View Neighborhood Association
Newsletter, and has been expanded for MVHA reading.
Often going unnoticed in Mountain View is the work of
fraternal groups that for generations have quietly gone about
performing noble deeds, locally and beyond. There’s a rich
heritage in the city of not-for-profit organizations such as the
Eagles, Freemasons, Kiwanis, Odd Fellows, Rotary Club, and
Sociedade da Festa Velha do Divino Espirito Santo (SFV). Many
of them are based in historically significant buildings–some
nearly a hundred years old.
The Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 2356, has occupied
three different locations on the historic 100 block of Castro
Street since it was chartered in 1946. The aerie (lodge)
originally met in the Jurian Building, built in 1913 at the corner
of Villa and Castro streets. It then relocated across and down
the street to where Olympus Caffe & Bakery is now. The order
later purchased the property of its present location a few
doors away, which was the original Meyer Electric (later Meyer
Appliance) site. That building was destroyed by a fire in 2002
but soon rebuilt to its present form, using more contemporary
architecture. Founded in the 1890s, the Eagles organization is
guided by its motto, “People Helping People,” reflected in Aerie
2356’s ongoing support of local and national causes, including
Mountain View Police Department–sponsored community
programs, the Community Services Agency, and national
charities such as the National Diabetes Fund and St. Jude’s
Hospital. For more information, see: https://bit.ly/3bpgKcJ .
Mountain View’s Masonic Lodge on Church Street was originally built in 1932 as
the American Legion Memorial Hall.
The Freemasons’ Mountain View De Anza Lodge 194,
located on Church Street adjacent to Pioneer Park, was built
in 1932 originally for the American Legion, and purchased
three years later by the Freemasons. Designed in the
Spanish Eclectic architectural style, it’s changed little. The
building presently hosts Lodge 194’s meetings, while its
downstairs can be rented by the public for various events.
Lodge members, following the Freemasons’ stated mission
to foster personal growth and improve the lives of others,
support the Mountain View community by donating their
time and resources to causes such as music and the arts for
local public schools. For more information, see: https://bit.
ly/3fDwjRf .
Kiwanis Club members and Mtn. View High athletes pose for a group photo in
front of the Adobe Building in 1937.
Founded in 1926 to fund the purchase land for Scout
troops, Kiwanis Club of Mountain View remains active in
supporting charities and nonprofits throughout the city and
neighboring communities. Over the past two decades, the
Kiwanis have donated more than two million dollars to the
Mountain View community, in the form of school supplies;
college scholarships; and grants to programs serving youth
sports, education, the arts, child and adult care, local parks,
and other charities. Instead of operating from their own
building, the Mountain View Kiwanis meet twice monthly at
Don Giovanni’s restaurant downtown. For more information,
see: https://bit.ly/2AwU4dQ .
A c. 1950 parade passes 181 Castro Street, then the location of Les Wright
Appliances and now occupied by the Eagles Aerie 2356.
Article continues on next page.
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