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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Our View: Appearance matters, even for government buildings ... Head and boulders above the rest ... Officers kill California murder suspect on I-5 ... Our View: Appearance matters, even for government buildings ... Head and boulders above the rest ... Officers kill California murder suspect on I-5 ... SYA Medford's Redmen Hall is former home of fraternal order Since You Asked: Medford's Redmen Hall is former home of fraternal order Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Nov. 25, 2014 at 12:01 AM Posted Nov. 25, 2014 at 12:01 AM » Social News Not far from the palatial mahogany and leather-lined SYA headquarters is a building on Holly Street labeled "Redmen Hall." This looks like some kind of headquarters for a fraternal organization, one that I am not familiar with. What say you about this, SYA gurus? — Jay S., Central Point Well Jay, you're absolutely right in your guess that the "Redmen" are a fraternal organization — and one that has an interesting history in Jackson County, at that. According to its website, the Improved Order of Red Men grew out of the early pre-revolutionary insurrectionist groups of the 1700s, like the Sons of Liberty.  The fraternity, which has a congressional charter, modeled itself after the governmental structures of the Iroquois Confederacy, along with borrowing American Indian imagery for its ceremonies.  According to the group's website, the Redmen Hall on Holly Street is home to the Weatonka Council No. 20. According to the Oregon Historical Society, the local "tribe" was formerly part of the Great Council of Oregon until the council's charter was revoked in 1935. It's now part of the Great Council of California, and the only branch of the organization left in Oregon. A Jacksonville building owned by the group in the late 1800s is now rented out as an events hall. Send questions to “Since You Asked,” Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by email to [email protected]. We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Nov. 25, 2014 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501