Concatenated Order of Hoo-Hoo

Say WHAT? You mean you’ve never heard of this august organization? Frankly, neither had I until this morning.

I followed a link to a description of the Great Missouri Treasure Hunt and while browsing the Missouri Digital Heritage collections, found Celebrating the Louisiana Purchase: The 1904 World’s Fair. My great-grandfather Ambrose B. Martindale, a lumberman and sawmill owner from Cushing, Texas, attended that 1904 fair, so I was curious to learn what exhibits he might have visited while there.

When I entered “lumber” as a search term, I only got one hit: “House of Hoo-Hoo Built Twice”! Apparently the clubhouse of the Concatenated Order of Hoo-Hoo had burned down in June 1904 and was rebuilt in under 30 days. Click here to see a copy of the program given to visitors and then on the Next arrow to see an official House of Hoo-Hoo pass and a photograph of the house.

Further research led me to the official Hoo-Hoo International website. Founded in 1892, membership in the fraternal organization is open to individuals in the forest services industry. Their membership brochure states:

The spirit of Hoo-Hoo is expressed in the nine fundamental values that encourage members to be fraternal, helpful, grateful, friendly, tolerant, progressive, industrious, loyal, and ethical. Hoo-Hoo believes that these nine points are the building blocks of the "Golden Rule". Hoo-Hoo members are expected to practice these principles in both their business and personal lives.

This is their logo:

While I never had the opportunity to know my great-grandfather, I have the impression that he was a rather reserved man. I can’t quite imagine him being a card-carrying Hoo-Hoo, but who's to say?

© 2011 Denise Spurlock