Any idea what this object is?

Question

My grandfather died in 1936, and I only have a few objects that I know belonged to him.  One object is a silk belt labeled "5155 W, Crook."  I thought it might be an item of clothing used as part of a club.  I know that he was a baptized Protestant, but I haven't found any club memberships before.  In my town during the time he lived here, there were Odd Fellows, Masons, and Woodmen of the World. From the photograph can you tell which of these groups he might have belonged to?  William Crook belt: https://www.flickr.com/gp/jlcrook/pt0Ue9 

Comments

Check out Eastern Star chapters also. If this clipping is for his wife (your grandmother), it mentions that she belonged to two Eastern Star Chapters. Gene Crook may have also belonged to those chapters. To me, it looks like something a Worthy Matron (local chapter leader) may have designed for the male members of the Chapter to wear during her year in office.

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Nelda, that makes some sense.  That clipping is my grandmother's obituary.  Grandma was quite active in Eastern Star for her entire life--she was their pianist (and also the pianist for Rebekahs).  I didn't join any of her lodges (I wasn't religious enough), so I don't know much about any of them, but she was a Worthy Matron of something or other one year, possibly before he died.  Since I have all her stuff, I'll have to try to figure that out.  Eastern Star is the female version of Masons, right?  My step-grandfather was a mason; maybe grandpa was too.  I've noticed while transcribing obituaries that men are sometimes listed as members of female organizations, such as Rebekahs.  It's all a mish-mash to me.  But that probably explains why she labeled it with his name and a date.  Thanks!

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Could the "Joe Crook" mentioned in this clipping be your grandfather? He died on the same day and in the same place.

Another clipping.

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Eastern Star are not part of the Masons, but it is an organization for women who are relatives of Masons. Any man who is also a Mason is also eligible for membership in Eastern Star, so frequently husbands join with their wives (my husband did and my father joined with my mother.) The Rebekah's probably do very much the same thing--have special attire they wear each year. I don't see the Jewel Chapter of the OES on the Colorado list of chapters, so the chapter may have closed or have been consolidated with another nearby chapter. The Grand Chapter of Colorado may be able to help you get more information about your grandparents--such as what year(s) she/he may have been initiated or served an office. In fact, the Grand Lodge of Colorado may be able to supply more information about your grandfather's Masonic membership. I once wrote to the Grand Lodge of Alabama for some information about one of my relatives and they were very accommodating. Best wishes in your continued search. Please, when you do find out what this sash/cumberbund is, come back and tell us.

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His nickname was Joe.  Yes, he fell off a scaffold at the Fairgrounds.  This says he died of a heart attack; Grandma always said it was an aneurysm.

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I have all of Grandma's lodge stuff, such as the scrapbooks from when she served as Grand Matron and Worthy whatever and pianist of this and that. Maybe they would know about Grandpa, so thanks for the suggestion.

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This explains why my step-grandpa was a member of the Eastern Star.

Answer 1

Was it a cummerbund he wore as part of a uniform? Like on thr railway

Comments

Presumably a cummerbund, yes.