A Black Ball Box was used to decide if a proposed candidate was to be accepted as a club member. Active club members who chose to accept a new candidate dropped a white or silver marble into the box. Those who chose to exclude a particular candidate dropped in a black marble. If any black marbles were found in the box, the candidate was "black balled" from the club and could not join. Several clubs still use a black ball box to vote on membership.
This Knights of Columbus regalia (left), complete with
ostrich plumed hat, is loaned from Mrs. Michael Brugger.
Clubs and Organizations pages:
Masonic
Lodge and
The Shriners
Patriotic
& Civic
Patriotic
& Civic 2
The
Rotary Club
Grange
& Patrons of Husbandry
Club
Jewelry
Women
Girl
and Boy Scouts
The Modern Woodmen of America fraternal
organization formed in 1890--adopting the ax as its symbol. The men
pictured above are the Wabash County Members in 1906. The M.W.A. started
an insurance company, still in existence today, to protect its members and
their families in time of need.