The Elks Club Band and their majorette, Gloria Ellexson, posed next to the Elks Temple before leaving for Cleveland, Ohio, in July of 1949 for the Elks National Convention. The band, under the direction of L.R. Grass, had been the 1948 state champions and Miss Ellexson was the state champion majorette. The band performed at the convention in Ohio, and Gloria, a student at the College of Puget Sound, was named the 1949 National Champion Drum Majorette. (TNT, 7/6/1949, p.10)
Elks Temple (Tacoma); Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Marching bands; Bands--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ellexson, Gloria; Drum majorettes--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Old Timers nite at Elks Club, Harry Lynch. All members of the Elks with 25 years or more service were honored with dinner at the Elks Club on January 26, 1949. After dinner the Old Timers marched to the lodge room and, after a short business session, they were treated to a two-hour professional vaudeville show and surprises. More than 400 members and their guests were expected. A band sits at the edge of the floor for the performance. A stuffed elk stands by one of the exits and a mounted elk head is over one of the doors at the rear on the room. Murals decorate the walls. (T.Times, 1/24/1949, p.2)
Elks Temple (Tacoma); Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Musicians--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Old Timers nite at Elks Club, Times, Buzz. All members of the Elks with 25 years or more of service were honored at a reunion at the Elks Temple January 26, 1949. The Tacoma Lodge received its charter from the grand lodge in 1890. Thirty-two of the men who were honored at the event have posed in front of the stage. Names are listed in the newspaper. (T.Times, 1/30/1949, p.7)
Elks Temple (Tacoma); Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma);
On December 30, 1948, the Elks Temple at 565 Broadway opened its doors to members, wives and ladies to see the newly renovated building. The club room, very popular with the majority of the membership, was just one of the rooms that was completely redone. Everything - chairs, tables, floor coverings, light fixtures - was new and modernized. Even the billiard tables were completely overhauled. All the funiture was custom made in Tacoma. (T.N.T., 12/30/48, p. 4-7).
The Tacoma Elks were celebrating the completion of their new building with an open house; all members and their wives were invited to attend. Interior view of the Elks Temple dining room, the dining room offers the members a spacious and redecorated are to enjoy lunch and dinners. The famed Stag table is on the left side; this room is predominantly decorated in green tones (T.N.T., 12/30/48, p. 4-7).
The Elks were organized to inculcate the principles of charity, justice, brotherly love and fidelity; the club promotes members' welfare and enhances the happiness of its members. The Elks believe they can increase American Patriotism and cultivate good fellowship. Interior view of Tacoma's Elks Lodge No. 174's clubroom, the clubroom is near the Secretary's office, the room has new billiard tables and Christmas decorations (T.N.T., 12/30/48, p. 4-7).
Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Christmas decorations; Billiard parlors--Tacoma; Fraternal lodges--Tacoma; Clubhouses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Elks Club (Tacoma); Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma);
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is not just a club, it is a national fraternal organization with over 1,500 lodges in the United States. Interior view of the new kitchen, Head Chef Mitchell Pentel will be preparing wonderful meals for the Elks; everything has been remodeled and all the appliances are new, including an automatic dishwasher, sterilizers and a walk-in quick freeze storage room (T.N.T., 12/30/48, p. 4-7).
The newly remodeled Elks Temple was celebrating their new facilities with an open house for members and their wives. The Tacoma Elks Club was organized in 1890, the Tacoma Charter was presented by Deputy Exalted Ruler C. W. Niving. View of spacious and redecorated dining room of the Tacoma Elks Lodge; the Elks famed Stag table is in the background, this table seats fifteen members who have their daily lunch at the club (T.N.T., 12/30/48, p. 4-7).
Exterior view of Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174. The Elks building had just been painted and repaired, additional remodeling would also be done on the interior of the building. Elks members chose this site in 1914 and it was officially opened in 1916. The stairs are spanish style and have a decorative balustrade between Broadway and Commerce Street. The style of the building could be classified as part of the Beaux-Arts movement with many classical and renaissance features including the symmetrical facade, grand arched openings, medallions and decorative swags. The Elks relocated to a new temple on So. Union Ave. in 1965.
The Elks Club appears packed on November 28, 1956, as members wait for promised entertainment on Old Timers Club night. The orchestra is seated, sheet music open and ready. The piano bench is empty although there is an organist at his keyboard. Elks members with 25 or more years of service were honored annually with dinner at the Elks Club plus an evening of music and skits. Photograph ordered by the Elks Club.
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma);
ca. 1931. Several men stand outside the door of the Tacoma Elks (BPOE- Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks) Temple admiring the Elks Magazine Studebaker President 8. Tom Truly has been identified as the young man in the cap at the far left of the photograph. He was one of the drivers on this Studebaker/Elks tour. The automobile according to lettering on its side was travelling from New York to Seattle for the Elks National Convention, July 6-9th. The automobile is believed to be a 1931 Studebaker President 8 Roadster convertible. At the wheel is thought to be W.C. O'Donnell, Studebaker advertising manager from NYC. The Elks National Grand Lodge Convention site was Seattle in 1931. (filed with Argentum) (Additional identification provided by a reader)
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Elks Temple (Tacoma); Fraternal lodges--Tacoma; Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Studebaker automobile; Truly, Tom;
