The mitten industry apparently disbanded and 10 years after the construction of the building, it was purchased by the Rock Falls Advance Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The sale was approved on August 5, 1879 by members of the Advance Lodge and Number Five Ancient Order of United Workers.
A committee consisting of A.C. Stanley, W.W. Brown and F. Dyer was authorized to borrow funds to pay off the indebtedness and to solicit contributions from the members of both orders for a one-year period without interest.
The sale agreement on the mitten factory building was executed on Aug.6, 1879 in the amount of $700. The purchase was made from James Darlan for Wesley Demplin who assigned their interest to Fayette Dyer. Dyer signed the bill of sale Aug. 14, 1879, turning the property over to the two orders.
A.C. Stanley, a leading Rock Falls grocer, was the noble grand of the IOOF in 1879 when the building was purchased for the new lodge home. Taxes were paid for the building in the amount of $15.27 on Mach 3, 1880.
The Odd Fellows organization occupied the building (called the old mitten factory in later years) until November of 1972. At this time the Odd Fellows moved into a new home located on Dixon and Emmons Avenues.
The old mitton factory building was sold to the Wheeler Estate. A short time after the purchase, the building was torn down and the site today is a private parking lot.
An early photo (above) of the building which served numerous purposes including a mitton and glove factory, a schoolhouse and for many years the home of the Rock Falls Advance Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Located on East Third Street just off First Avenue, the mitton factory was built in 1869 by A.P. Smith and after more than 100 years service, was torn down.
Daily Gazette July 2, 1976
