The History of the Old Lodge in Marionville

The Old Lodge in Marionville is a building with a rich and layered history. This nearly 7,000-square-foot, two-story structure was originally built in 1923 by the Masons and served as a Masonic Lodge for its first twelve years.

Over the decades, the building continually adapted to meet the needs of the community. It became a music emporium where people could learn, play, and purchase instruments. Later, it operated as both a movie theater and a bowling alley, providing entertainment and a gathering place for local families. In the 1950s, the building found new life as Bible Baptist Church, and throughout the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, it served as a VFW hall with a very active Women’s Auxiliary.

Around the turn of the century, the building became home to the Marionville Clothing Distribution Center, a nonprofit ministry where community members could donate and receive clothing and household items. Stewardship of the building eventually passed to Bruce Schatzer, who faithfully kept the operation running for over a decade—often without electricity or heat—distributing hundreds of thousands of items to those in need.

Following Bruce’s passing in 2024, the building quickly fell into serious disrepair, including a major roof failure that left it exposed to the elements. Although the clothing ministry had operated in the space for years, the property remained under a former nonprofit, creating potential legal complications. To help preserve the property and avoid a lengthy legal process, iWork4Him Ministries acquired the building with the intent of transferring it to the Marionville Firefighters Auxiliary.

Shortly after taking ownership on December 30, 2024, emergency repairs began. The roof was rebuilt with new decking and shingles in just a few days. The property was then offered to the Firefighters Auxiliary, who ultimately declined the transfer.

With the original plan no longer moving forward, the Board of Directors of iWork4Him Ministries stepped back from the project. Ownership was then transferred to Jim and Martha Brangenberg and Kris and Sydney Bowling, who spent the next year restoring the historic building and preparing it for its next chapter.

Throughout 2025, significant renovations were completed. All 39 windows were replaced and wrapped in aluminum for maintenance-free durability. Six new exterior doors were installed, extensive brick and masonry repairs were completed, and numerous other improvements transformed the long-neglected building into a renewed community asset.

In the spring of 2025, the property hosted one of the largest garage sales in Marionville’s history, redistributing more than 10,000 items back into the community, with most items selling at 25 cents. Proceeds from the sale helped fund the building’s window replacements.

Kris and Sydney Bowling stepped away from the project in the run-up to the 2026 Mayoral Election to eliminate any conflict of interest between Jim Brangenberg and Kris Bowling, who was a city employee at the time.

A New Chapter

Today, the building is known as The LoJ—short for Lion of Judah. It is still pronounced "Lodge," honoring the building's past while reflecting the lions that now stand on the balcony.

The vision for The LoJ is to once again become a place where the community gathers while also contributing to Marionville's future through increased sales tax and property tax revenue. A variety of possibilities are being explored, including childcare services on the lower level and a flexible event space upstairs for dances, bingo nights, community celebrations, and other large events.

No final plans have been announced, and every possibility is being thoughtfully evaluated. The goal is to preserve the building's historic character while creating a sustainable space that serves residents, welcomes visitors, and continues the legacy of a building that has been part of Marionville's story for more than a century.