The Ancient Order of United Workmen, a fraternal benefit society, was originally founded in Pennsylvania in 1868. The Massachusetts lodge was founded in 1879 with the Deerfield Valley Lodge incorporated in 1880. According to membership applications, by 1896 the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts had the largest jurisdiction in the Order. This fraternal benefit society served to provide affordable life insurance for its members, paying out a guaranteed death benefit of $2,000. This fund was maintained by assessing members a fee each time a brother died. Annual fees averaged $12 over the lodge's first fourteen years.