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Woodmen Circle Home 
ca 1931 A House is built of bricks and stone, of tiles and posts and piers; But a Home is built of loving deeds that stand a thousand years The
loving deeds of members everywhere
Words from the back of a Postcard, featuring the home. The Home's Motto;
"Thrift and Efficiency" In the late 1800's
women were not able to
purchase insurance. With the help of Mr. John T. Yoates of
Denver
Colorado, who was one of the founders of Woodmen of the World Fraternal
Society, the Supreme Forest of the Woodmen Circle was formed for the
purpose
of insuring women.
One of the early members of the Woodmen Circle Fraternity was Dora Alexander Tally (sister of J.A."Hot" Alexander) of Garland Texas. It was Mrs. Talley who had the vision for a home for the insured members, widowed or retired, and orphaned children of the insured members. As a Texan she was instrumental in choosing the site for the home. In November of 1928 ground was broken and construction began on a hill three miles west of Sherman. The 240 acres of the original site was formerly known as the LeBaron Farm. In
1930 the doors of the main building were opened
to receive the first members. The Pennsylvania Building was
erected
in 1933 and the west wing of the building was added in
1940-41. John
Tullock was architect for the main building and James R. Grady was
architect
for the main building addition. In Jun 1938 the regional
convention
of the Woodmen Circle was held in Sherman. The main building
was
rededicated and named the Dora Alexander Talley Building. The
home
was closed in 1962 when the Woodmen circle and the Woodmen of the World
agreed to merge. In 1972 the property was sold to five local
businessmen.
The Supreme Forest Woodmen Circle was the first company to value the life of women and to offer life insurance of women in the late 1800's. An insured woman who was "aged, indigent or in need" had the option to surrender her policy and move to the Woodmen Circle Home. Likewise, if an insured woman died, the policy guaranteed care for her minor children until each reached the age of 18. Woodmen Circle Home uniquely combined care for the aged and the young. 
Woodmen's Circle Home in Sherman, Texas: A Haunting Piece of Local History 
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