This 1957 photo includes six key Gleaner officers and directors: (from left) Roy Rathman, Director from 1957-1973; J. Lee Strachan, Director from 1939-1969, Treasurer from 1955-1961 and 1961-1971; Joseph Kulick, Vice President 1966-1972, Treasurer from 1974-1977, Director, 1957-1977; R. George Ransford, President from 1946-1979, General Counsel from 1940-1985; Harry Hough, Director from 1930-1962, Supreme Chief Gleaner in 1922 and 1930; and Wayne Hudson, Director from 1955-1969.
Plans were completed and bids received for the new building in January 1956. The low bid of $782,397 was submitted by J.A. Friedman Inc. and a completion date of January 1957 established.
amendments including having all premium payments mailed by members to the new address in Birmingham. It was a major change in how premiums were handled. For more than 60 years, local arbor secretaries had collected premiums and forwarded them. Having notices sent by the Home Office and returned there streamlined the process. Despite starting on April 1, 1958 — April Fools’ Day — the change succeeded in modernizing operations of the Society.
The new, 39,000-square-foot building was larger than Gleaner Life’s immediate needs. President Ransford proposed to rent nearly half the space and estimated rental income would exceed $66,000 per year. It proved to be an excellent decision since operating costs for the building were only $34,860 the first year. The advertising firm of McManus, John & Adams was the first tenant, paying $68,280 per year for 14,975 square feet of space.
A New Spirit of Fraternalism During the period following World War II, it became increasingly difficult to maintain the fraternal tradition so much a part of Gleaner history. In his 1957 convention report President Ransford said:
The original bid for the Temple was evidently withdrawn and a committee composed of President Ransford, J. Lee Strachan and William Woodward was formed to dispose of the property. A land contract for $170,000 was considered and rejected. The building eventually was sold to the Newman Foundation at Wayne State University for $125,000. The deed was transferred to Cardinal Edward Mooney, Archbishop of Detroit, on Dec. 26, 1957. The Temple building was still in use 81 years after it was completed in 1909. In 1997, the building was demolished for parking space. The sheaf of wheat and sickle decoration atop the building was saved, however, and now rests at the Home Office in Adrian, Michigan.
“The Society has another function in addition to just that of providing a complete and modern program of life insurance for the family. It is the function of providing a complete and modern program of fraternity. It is apparent that this segment of our Society has not kept pace with the life insurance program. There are many reasons for this, and it is not a problem peculiar to our Society alone. “Time Magazine carried an article in its Aug. 26, 1957, issue concerning apathy on lodge night as it affects all fraternal organizations, yet there is a general growth factor. This could only
The new building at 1600 N. Woodward Ave. was occupied by Gleaner Life in February 1957. At October’s 28th Biennial Convention, delegates approved several 83
