The fight for the Supreme Forest Woodmen Circle Home is NOT over.

The Supreme Forest Woodmen Circle Home was built through nationwide contributions from the organization’s statewide women memberships and stood as a nationally significant symbol of social aid, compassion, and women-led leadership during a time when such institutions were rare and often overlooked. The Home provided care for aged members and orphaned children, serving generations through a powerful network of community support and social welfare.

Located in Sherman, Texas, the Home was more than a building. It represented a legacy.

Following organizational transitions and changing property stewardship after the merger involving Woodmen of the World, the historical significance of the property became increasingly disconnected from public awareness. Over time, opportunities for preservation were not fully realized prior to demolition. In 2022, the historic structure was demolished, with only portions of the porch structures and salvaged bricks remaining. Today, the cemetery and commemorative landscape stand as some of the last surviving physical reminders of what was once a nationally connected women-led social aid movement.

Many people believe that once a historic property is demolished, there are no remaining protections or avenues for public involvement. That is not always true.

Community members still have the right to request investigation and review regarding the circumstances surrounding the destruction of historic resources, including concerns involving demolition by neglect and potential review under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act where applicable.

Historic preservation laws exist because communities deserve a voice when culturally and historically significant places are threatened or lost.

Fraternal institutions like the Woodmen Circle Home played an essential role in American society. These spaces served as centers of education, leadership, charity, support, and public service. The Supreme Forest Woodmen Circle Home was especially significant because it reflected women-led efforts in social welfare, orphan care, elder care, and mutual aid on a national scale.

Even after demolition, the public still has the ability to advocate for:
• preservation of the remaining cemetery and commemorative landscape
• protection of salvaged historical elements
• proper historical recognition
• accountability regarding long-term neglect and loss of historic resources
• preservation planning for any remaining associated resources
• public education surrounding the Home’s historical significance

We encourage historians, descendants, preservation advocates, and community members to continue documenting:
• photographs
• historical records
• family connections
• demolition timeline information
• evidence of deterioration or demolition by neglect
• remaining landscape and cemetery features

This effort is no longer just about a building.

It is about whether nationally significant places tied to women’s history, social welfare, and community memory are allowed to disappear without accountability or preservation efforts.

We call upon city leaders, preservation organizations, historians, and the public to support recognition and protection of the remaining historical resources connected to the Supreme Forest Woodmen Circle Home and Cemetery.

By signing and sharing this petition, you help ensure that future generations understand the legacy left behind by the women and families who built, funded, sustained, and depended upon this extraordinary institution.

Please continue sharing this petition and following for updates.