It was the time of the Crimean War.  During this time of Pictous history we were a very busy seaport involved in shipbuilding and much more.  To be exact that date was June 29th 1854, when Eastern Star Lodge of the Independent Order of Oddfellows was instituted at Pictou,Nova Scotia.  It is now No. 1 on the registry of the present grand Lodge of the Maritime Provinces and has a proud distinction of being the oldest Lodge in the order of  the maritime jurisdiction, and one of the oldest lodges in Canada.  Starting out the Lodge was not as strong as some, but to quote the orders historian, good work was done.  This was shown  during the severe winter of 1866 When the  Lodge organized and operated an extensive charitable work which provided food and clothing for numbers of people not connected with the order.  As a result public sympathy was awakened for Oddfellowship, and the order became firmly established in the community.