I've written before about this vintage church building, still standing at the intersection of North Grand Street and Auburn Avenue in Chariton although remodeled almost beyond recognition. It is the last remaining physical reminder here of the Ku Klux Klan, which flourished in Lucas County from 1923 until 1927 or thereabouts.
Built in 1874 and enlarged in 1905 by a pioneer United Presbyterian congregation, it became vacant when Chariton's two Presbyterian churches merged during the early 1920s. The Klan purchased the vacant building as headquarters in 1924 and held it until 1930, when it was sold to what now is Truth Assembly of God --- a congregation that had nothing to do with the building's former owners.
Two articles about the building came to hand last week as I was writing about the Klan in Wayne County, where it was organized in 1924 by "missionaries" from Lucas County including John P. Ream, former Lucas County treasurer and later Klan organizer; the Rev. Jesse D. Pontius, pastor of Chariton's First Christian Church and perhaps exalted cyclops of the Lucas County Klan; and Wayne Blankenship, professional Klan organizer from Indiana.
The first, published in The Iowa Fiery Cross, the Klan's statewide newspaper, during April of 1924 and reprinted on April 16 in The Humeston New Era, was shared by Bob Gunzenhauser of Humeston, great-grandson of E.B. McConnell, editor and publisher of The New Era from 1919 until 1947. The headline reads: "Klan Buys Home In Chariton."
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From the Iowa Fiery Cross: The members of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan of Lucas county are the first in the Hawkeye state to purchase their own home. In so doing, they have won a victory over the local forces of opposition, and have set a record for the rest of Iowa to follow.
An old church structure, together with a seven-room modern house, formerly used as a manse, has been bought for cash. The two buildings are situated on a lot, 56 by 165 feet, at the corner of North Grand street and Auburn avenue, Chariton, two blocks from the public square.
The church building, which has a seating capacity of 500, will be used by the local Klan unit to hold closed meetings. The organization has been renting the building all winter. Outdoor Klonklaves are in order during the spring and summer months, but on days when the weather will not permit such, the church will be used.
For the time being, the offices and club room of the local Klan will be maintained in the business district and the house rented. It may be that in the future, after Lucas county obtains a charter, the house will be used as a headquarters and club rooms for Lucas county Klansmen.
The purchase of the property has just been consummated. Although at the present time money is evidently scarce in Iowa, the local order had no trouble in raising funds with which to pay cash for the purchase. There were several members who volunteered to finance the entire deal, but a scheme was worked out whereby all members of the order can participate in it.
The move is a decided victory for the Klan here. There has been much opposition to the growth of the order since its inception. The use of the high school auditorium was refused last year when Professor DeBarr of the University of Oklahoma stopped in Chariton on his lecture tour of Iowa. The prejudice of uninformed townspeople had also to be overcome. This has been successfully done, and the local Klan is looked upon with respect by all.
The Chariton organization has already distinguished itself in Iowa by being one of the most active Klans in the state. While its membership roll is not as large as in bigger communities, the spirit of Klankraft is great in proportion to its size.
It is seldom that an unchartered Klan obtains its own home, and by doing so the Chariton unit has set a goal toward which all other Iowa Klans may strive.
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I found the second article in The Southern Iowa American, the Klan newspaper published in Centerville at the time. It appears in the edition of June 11, 1925. Be warned that one line of type is illegible and at least one line of type was dropped at the end when it was published so the article cuts off in mid-sentence.
About a year ago, six leaders in the Klan unit in (Chariton) got together and decided the local Klavern should have a home of its own.
An abandoned Protestant church, together with a fine building adjoining, formerly used as the manse, were purchased at a very reasonable figure. Both buildings are very substantial, standing at a splendid corner several blocks away from the public square.
They meet the needs of the Klan. The church is used as the Klavern for the men and women, and the manse as offices for both orders.
These six men underwrote the purchase price of the property until available funds for liquidation of the debt could be met.
Several nights ago, the temple was dedicated with appropriate ceremony as the local Klan's home. The Klanswomen had prepared a splendid program of music and addresses. Rev. J. D. Pontius, pastor of the Church of Christ, gave the dedicatory address. The Imperial Representative for Iowa was present and made a splendid address on what the Klan has done and what the future holds for it.
After the services, lunch was served by the Women of the Klan.
The Klan is here to stay, and with a fine home to live in, it will forge (remainder of line illegible).
The deed to the temple has been turned over and it is free of any debt. Too much cannot be said of the men who so sacrificed themselves and used their resources that the Klan could enjoy their new home.
Under the leadership of its able Exalted Cyclops, the Chariton Klan has a (article ends abruptly).
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It needs to be pointed out that, contrary to statements in The Fiery Cross article, the Klan certainly was not "looked upon with respect by all" in Chariton. Opposition remained strong, including from the editors and publishers of both newspapers, The Leader and The Herald-Patriot.
And it's doubtful that Lucas County's Roman Catholic, Jewish, black and foreign-born populations had any respect at all for the organization, its secretive members and their fiery crosses.
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