Odd Circle Research Paper
Personal Essay Draft
I took a stroll off campus through the direction I have walked the many times I decide to accompany my friend to work. The Three Links Campus is widespread across the right side of Forest avenue road, existing in it’s own little world in Northfield. It’s isolated yet surrounded. Isolated in the way it stands out from the many common residence homes on the left of the road, and the way it’s white short fences silently beg you not to trespass. Yet it is a world that holds the world of so many others. Old people come to live or to die there, that much I know.
Before I reach the Three Links Campus I notice a small park. How many times have I walked past that I didn’t even know a park existed here. It is a small park with an …show more content…
equipped children's playground, complete with swing sets. How odd is it that the playground is right next to a nursing home. And next to the playground there is shaded picnic table area. So, while the hip replaced grandparents sit at the picnic tables, they can admire the agility of their grandkids prancing about on the playground. Those grandparents can reflect on the days when playing in the playground felt like paradise.
What is even odd is the name of the park, Odd Fellows Park, but not as odd as when I first thought the it was called the Old Fellows Park.
Who are these odd fellows and what is their deal with parks? As I later found out, the Odd Fellows not only own the park but the history of Three Links Campus itself is linked to the Odd Fellows.
Historically, the Old Fellows or Odd Fellowship is a religiously and politically independent fraternity in London, United Kingdom during the 1700’s. They advocate for civil liberties and reliefs. Then a split in the fraternity led to the spread of odd fellows overseas and the U.S. chapter was founded in 1819. Since then, the Odd Fellows have established chapters in different states and Minnesota happen to have an Odd Fellow chapter.
Even more intriguing is that a triple links is a recurring symbol among odd fellows internationally, that means friendship, love, and truth. So the name “Three Links” pays homage to its Odd Fellows heritage. Three Links of long history in the Northfield community. It was founded in 1899 as an orphanage and is continuously sponsored by the fraternal order of the Odd Fellows and Rebekahs. Through the years, Three Links has evolved to serve many health care needs. Now their focus is on care of the elderly. The Odd Fellows park is just an extension of the affiliation between Three Links and the Odd Fellows. A token that ties the present and the past, and sings the praise of
history.
I took a stroll off campus through the direction I have walked the many times I decide to accompany my friend to work. The Three Links Campus is widespread across the right side of Forest avenue road, existing in it’s own little world in Northfield. It’s isolated yet surrounded. Isolated in the way it stands out from the many common residence homes on the left of the road, and the way it’s white short fences silently beg you not to trespass. Yet it is a world that holds the world of so many others. Old people come to live or to die there, that much I know.
Before I reach the Three Links Campus I notice a small park. How many times have I walked past that I didn’t even know a park existed here. It is a small park with an …show more content…
equipped children's playground, complete with swing sets. How odd is it that the playground is right next to a nursing home. And next to the playground there is shaded picnic table area. So, while the hip replaced grandparents sit at the picnic tables, they can admire the agility of their grandkids prancing about on the playground. Those grandparents can reflect on the days when playing in the playground felt like paradise.
What is even odd is the name of the park, Odd Fellows Park, but not as odd as when I first thought the it was called the Old Fellows Park.
Who are these odd fellows and what is their deal with parks? As I later found out, the Odd Fellows not only own the park but the history of Three Links Campus itself is linked to the Odd Fellows.
Historically, the Old Fellows or Odd Fellowship is a religiously and politically independent fraternity in London, United Kingdom during the 1700’s. They advocate for civil liberties and reliefs. Then a split in the fraternity led to the spread of odd fellows overseas and the U.S. chapter was founded in 1819. Since then, the Odd Fellows have established chapters in different states and Minnesota happen to have an Odd Fellow chapter.
Even more intriguing is that a triple links is a recurring symbol among odd fellows internationally, that means friendship, love, and truth. So the name “Three Links” pays homage to its Odd Fellows heritage. Three Links of long history in the Northfield community. It was founded in 1899 as an orphanage and is continuously sponsored by the fraternal order of the Odd Fellows and Rebekahs. Through the years, Three Links has evolved to serve many health care needs. Now their focus is on care of the elderly. The Odd Fellows park is just an extension of the affiliation between Three Links and the Odd Fellows. A token that ties the present and the past, and sings the praise of
history.