1880-Covered I.O.O.F. Staircase

“Covered Staircase”- back of the I.O.O.F. Meeting Hall.

Backdoor “Covered Staircase” 1880-Bodie THEN- Bodie NOW—— 140 years later!!

The backside of the IOOF Meeting Hall tells it’s own unique Bodie Story-

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge No. 279- used the upper floor or “second floor” of the HENRY WARD BUILDING.

The “first floor” was used by Henry Ward, who had built the the building in 1880 to house his “Undertaking & Furniture Business.”

The IOOF Meeting Hall entrance was a “covered staircase,” located at the back of the WARDS FURNITURE STORE.

The outdoor staircase was “enclosed and covered,” because of Bodie snow-levels. An “uncover staircase” would have collapsed under the weight of the snow, or be destroyed by rain or wind- storm-damage

The backdoor, “covered staircase” entrance was protected from “storm damage,” allowing usage of the Meeting Hall year round- no matter the disaster caused by the resulting snow-drift heights.