On March 6, 1908, Proprietors G.L. Baldwin & Will Purdy moved from their former locations on Canyon St. into the storefronts of the Odd Fellows Lodge at 213 & 215 West Mermod Street. Baldwin’s The Big Racket’ occupied the Western half of the building, while Purdy’s Furniture Store took up the Center and eastern half. The SENM Historical Society was founded April 6th, 1970 by a group of 147 citizens who held a common interest in the history of this region. As a 501(c)(3) organization, they endeavor to collect, preserve, research, publish and exhibit objects, artifacts and documents connected to Southeastern New Mexico. Our Imperial Cream Ale was brewed to help the SENMHS raise funds to move their scattered COLLECTIONS into a permanent ARCHIVES BUILDING. THEY ENDEAVOR TO INCREASE public accessibILITY OF THEIR Collections FOR research by HISTORIANS & ENTHUSIASTS ALIKE.

The two story brick building at 213 and 215 W. Mermod St. was purpose built as the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge, No. 21. Construction began on July 20th, 1906, with George Bruce serving as contractor and Groves Lumber (East Stevens St.) supplying the materials. The cost of construction was $10,000. The cornerstone was laid a few months later on September 9th, with a great procession from Grace Church at 508 W. Fox. to the construction site at 213 W. Mermod. The Odd Fellows held their first meeting in February 1907, and boasted the largest I.O.O.F. Hall in the Southwest up to that point. Knights of Pythias and Woodmen of the World both rented the lodge from the Odd Fellows to hold their meetings. On August 16th, 1907, Carlsbad held its first-ever Chautauqua on the ground floor, featuring fourteen entertainers. In early March 1908, Will Purdy, proprietor of Purdy’s Furniture and G.L. Baldwin of The Big Racket Store, moved from their locations on Canyon Street into the ground level of the I.O.O.F. Building. The Big Racket Store, a variety store, was in the west half of the building, with Purdy’s taking up the east half, center, and most of the stock room. In 1932, after the discovery of potash in the region, the United States Potash Company moved their offices into the ground level of the building where they remained until 1952 when they moved to the purpose-built John Gaw Meem designed Spanish Pueblo style building at the corner of Halagueno and Mermod. Veterans of Foreign Wars No. 3277 first met in the upstairs of the I.O.O.F. lodge in 1935. In 1953, F.H. Kramp, one of the pioneer photographers of Carlsbad, moved his FraMar Studio to the east side of 213 W. Mermod from the upstairs of the Pate Building, 122 North Canyon. Near the end of 1953, Art Kingston’s Art’s Delicatessen opened in the west half of the building. On February 1st, 1958, a fire originating in the regalia room upstairs caused extensive damage after Carlsbad Fire Dept. had to hose in water that poured into the ground floor businesses. It effectively closed Art’s Deli. F.H. Kramp sold his photography studio to Dale Sedgwick in 1963, and the ground floor of 213 W. Mermod became Dale Sedwick Studio. This remained as his photo studio through the mid-90’s.