Beyond their similar exteriors, Modern Woodmen of America (MWA) camp lodges also shared interior layouts with a stage at one end of the building. The stage curtains were used as advertising space for local businesses and were hand-painted. It’s not known exactly how Ernest Hüpeden learned about the new MWA camp under construction in Valton, but we do know that he reached out to founder Charles Gibault and offered his painting services.

 

And this is where the genius of German immigrant Ernest Hüpeden begins to show. Instead of painting the usual business adverts, Hüpeden proposed something different. In exchange for room and board, he painted the Battle of Manila Bay on the stage curtain—an “advertisement” not for local businesses, but for the MWA organization itself.

 

While MWA shared similarities with other fraternal groups like the Moose, Elks, and Odd Fellows, it was unique in offering life insurance to its members. And at the turn of the century, few things made the need for life insurance more immediate—or more devastating—than war. Folk artists often drew from current events, and Hüpeden was no exception. This choice adds another layer of meaning and historical depth to the murals inside MWA Camp 6190, where real-world events are quietly encoded in the artwork.

 

Instead of the curtain, Hüpeden painted the advertisements on the window shades. We know this from the different colors visible on the window trim. Only one original window shade survives today. It is extremely fragile and is kept in archival storage. But *** keep an eye out *** this summer, we’re planning a very special event where several rare works by Ernest Hupeden will be available for public viewing.

 

Fun Fact: The only place where Ernest Hupeden signs his work is on the curtain – Ernest Hupeden, Valton, 12/20/1899!