Welcome
Good Day and a warm Hello from all of us here at PM Park.
Our Promise to You (our guests)
PM Park is the last of its kind here in the USA, perhaps we should modernize but then again maybe we should not. We hope that when you arrive we can help slow time down giving you a chance to relax, step away from the hustle and bustle of every day life and find the time to enjoy the company of friends and the beauty of Clear Lake. The carpet is green grass, the air conditioning is provided by the 100 year old oak trees and the breeze off of the lake.
History
What is now PM Park has its roots in the Oddfellows, which was founded in the United Kingdom in the 18th century. Eventually, the Odd Fellows found their way to the United States, where they founded an independent chapter in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1819.
According to Patriarchs Militant literature, occasionally a war would erupt, and the men would be summoned to fight, but someone would have to stay behind to take care of the children, the orphans, the women who were left alone, and the elderly who still needed care. These people were called the Patriarchs Militant.
The Patriarchs Militant is the uniformed branch of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.), established in 1886 by the Sovereign Grand Lodge, the international governing body of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The Patriarchs Militant were known as protectors; the motto the Patriarchs lived by was “Justitia Universalis, Pax aut Bellum”, (Universal Justice, Peace or War).
In 19th century America (and Britain and Australia), orphanages were common. As part of their role to care for the widows and orphans, the Patriarchs Militant set up "PM Parks". At one point in time, every state in America had one or more PM Parks. [citation needed] The Clear Lake PM Park is one of the few PM Parks left.
There were two purposes of PM Park. The first was to provide a gathering place for meetings and training sessions of the Patriarchs. The second was to provide a summer camp for children who were less fortunate. PM Parks gave children a summer vacation in a life that didn’t offer much luck.
The PM Park in Clear Lake, Iowa, was established in 1914. When it was first built, it included two buildings. One of the buildings was used as a gathering place for eating and entertainment. The other building, which sits right next to the first, was a dormitory for the children to stay in. They are located on the south side of the lake.
Still to this day, the PM Park in Clear Lake, Iowa, is owned by the Patriarchs Militant. The Patriarchs lease out the facilities to Cristine and Rahn Brager to run restaurant and lodging facilities.
At least once a year, the Patriarchs Militant makes their way to the park for a week at a time, holding meetings, ceremonies, and various other events. This point in time is called PM Week.
Present day
PM Park is a 110-year-old resort-style business located lakeside in Clear Lake, IA. We have an energetic, fast-paced yet happy workplace. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and light dinners seven days a week from Mother's Day until Labor Day. Besides the restaurant, we cater a wedding every Saturday, have lodging and a Tiki Bar.
