This is a remarkable piece of Coos County history. It captured a moment most probably in 1896 that perfectly illustrates the "Golden Age of Fraternalism" in rural New England.
The men in the center are prominent citizens of the West Stewartstown, a booming hub for the logging industry and dairy farming. They represent the "civilized frontier" of Northern New Hampshire. In the late 1890s. wearing the uniform of the Uniform Rank, Knights of Pythias (URKP), which was the quasi-military branch of the fraternity popular between the 1880s and early 1900s. Fraternal organizations like the Knights of Pythias were the "social glue" of these communities. Fraternalism in America reached its "Golden Age" in the late 19th century. The number 20 prominently displayed on the front of the head caps (kepis) identifies the specific local "Subordinate Lodge." In New Hampshire’s Pythian history, Lodge 20 was known as “Granite Lodge No. 20”. If you look closely at the small gold embroidery just above the wreath, you can see "N. H." for New Hampshire. The silver-threaded wreath surrounding the "20" signifies the rank of the wearer. This specific style was standard for officers or members of the Uniform Rank during the late Victorian era (c. 1890–1910) signifying honor and victory. The Knights of Pythias were the first fraternal organization to receive a charter from the U.S. Congress, and they took their "knightly" appearance very seriously as a show of civic pride and discipline.
By 1897, millions of American men (1 in 4) belonged to these secret societies; while they weren't actual soldiers, their uniformed branches were a staple of local parades, performed precision drills, and served as guards of honor at funerals or town celebrations during this exact time window. In a small town like West Stewartstown, being a member of the Knights meant you were likely a civic leader or a successful businessman at the center of social life. These fraternal organizations functioned as both a social safety net and a "who’s who" of the community. This was the "Golden Age" of the Knights of Pythias. At this time, they were the third-largest fraternal order in the world (behind the Masons and Odd Fellows). For a man in a remote area like the Great North Woods of New Hampshire, the Lodge provided a vital connection to a national network and a sense of "knightly" honor in an industrializing world.
West Stewartstown sits right on the "frontier" of the Canadian border. The group likely hosted members from both sides of the border, making it a truly international social hub in the 1890s.
The women standing on the porch behind the men likely belonged to the Pythian Sisters, the female auxiliary founded in 1888. For women in a remote area like Coos County, they provided one of the few formal avenues for leadership and social organization outside of the church. Their work was based on four pillars: Purity, Love, Equality, and Fidelity
Large group photos like this were usually taken during regional gathering where Cantons from across Coos County (and even Vermont/Quebec) would meet for drills and a parade. The combination of the men's specific regalia and the women's fashion confirms a date of 1895–1897.
Understanding the Scene from the photograph: the men in the middle row are the elite rank.
- The Uniforms: The men are in the "Full Dress”. The men are wearing "Chevalier" uniforms, the Pythian version modeled very strictly after U.S. Army officer regulations of the post-Civil War era. Note the single-breasted tunics, “frock coat”, with nine golden buttons, white belts, and ceremonial swords. These buttons were usually brass or silver-plated with the letters "K P" embossed on them. The men are wearing "fatigue caps" (kepis) which were standard for the Knights of Pythias Uniform Rank. Looking closely at the insignia on the front of the caps, you can see a circular or oval wreath design. In Pythian uniforms of this era, this typically enclosed the letters "U.R." (Uniform Rank) or a lily, their official emblem. Note also the "PM" or the "Crown and Crossed Swords" on the collars. In the Uniform Rank, members followed a strict military hierarchy: Captain, Lieutenant, and Sir Knight. The men with more elaborate shoulder knots (Jim Stapleton and Will Allen) would have held leadership titles like Captain or Ensign.
- The Swords: These were purely ceremonial, symbolizing the "crusade" against vice and the protection of the "widow and the orphan"—The straight-bladed ceremonial swords with cruciform (cross-shaped) hilts are a hallmark of the Pythian Uniform Rank; the guard will then have the letters “UR". The swords usually feature a knight's head on the pommel and a falcon on the guard (the Pythian symbol of vigilance). Many carried the image of a sprig of myrtle (the Pythian symbol of love) or a falcon. Unlike military swords, these were often highly etched with the owner’s name. The sword often arbored scenes of the Damon and Pythias legend. A full Knight of the Pythian order often inscribed his sword with the image of a knight's helmet with a lion on the crest.
- The Symbolism: The order's rituals were based on the Greek legend of Damon and Pythias—two friends willing to die for one another. A Skeleton is often present on ornaments and in many Pythian "Castle Halls”. A real or replica skeleton was used during initiations to remind members of their own mortality (Memento Mori). Most of their ornaments feature the "Three Links”, standing for the order's three pillars (FCB): Friendship, Charity, and Benevolence, and feature the order's coat of arms: a falcon (symbolizing vigilance), a knight's helmet, and often crossed swords. Because the Uniform Rank was often called the "Army of the Lily," you might see floral motifs (lilies) or the letters UR integrated into the metalwork of ornamental pieces.
- The Setting: This was likely taken on the porch of a prominent local building in West Stewartstown. The building in the photo—with its massive white porch columns—was a hallmark of the grander "society" architecture of that era. Most of these large wooden blocks in West Stewartstown were multi-purpose: the ground floor usually held a general store or pharmacy, while the second and third floors were reserved for the "Secret Society" halls. The lodge is likely the "Lovering Block” (Lovering Store, near the bridge).
Without uniform, but also of noteworthy, are The Schoffs: Ed Schoff appears at the end of the top row, while his wife is also present. This "husband and wife" involvement was a hallmark of Society, which was more inclusive of families than the Freemasons at the time. The Ripleys were also a prominent local family; Leon would have been a young man here, likely a newer recruit to the order. Fraternal events were often family affairs.
Fashion of 1896: The most reliable way to date late-Victorian photos is by looking at women’s sleeves. The "Leg-o-Mutton" Sleeves: Several women in the photo are wearing dresses with massive, puffed upper sleeves that taper at the wrist. This specific "gigot" or leg-o-mutton style exploded in size starting around 1893, peaked in 1895–1896 (becoming almost comical in scale), and then rapidly deflated and disappeared by 1899. High Necklines and Small Waists: The high-collared bodices and the "hourglass" silhouette created by the wide shoulders were the hallmark of the mid-1890s. The women's flat, decorated hats (millinery) match the "Gibson Girl" transition era of the late 1890s.
The Children: The children sitting in the front row are dressed in quintessential Victorian Sunday best—the girls in lace collars and the boys in "Little Lord Fauntleroy" style suits and caps.
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