Memorial services - Tacoma Elks Lodge. A large audience is present for the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174's memorial services held on December 2, 1970. The services are believed to commemorate the passing of Elks members. Color photograph ordered by Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174.

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Elks Temple (Tacoma); Memorial rites & ceremonies--Tacoma--1970-1980;

On March 8, 1967, various athletes from local high schools were honored once again at the annual "Athletes Nite" held at the Tacoma Elks Temple, 1965 So. Union Ave. Uniformed majorettes and cheerleaders from the schools were also on hand to provide entertainment and support. Banners were hung with the names of participating schools- including Lincoln, Mount Tahoma, Stadium, Bellarmine, Lakes, Laughbon (in Dupont), Wilson, Franklin Pierce, Clover Park, Curtis and Peninsula. Photograph ordered by the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174.

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Elks Temple (Tacoma); Cheerleading--Tacoma--1960-1970; Students--Tacoma--1960-1970; Banners--Tacoma;

The Tacoma Elks Club was heavily involved in community service. In March, 1967, they donated a new Chevy van to the Boys Club of America local chapters. The Tacoma Boys Club retained possession of the truck but all boys clubs were permitted to use it. Standing in front of the Elks Temple were the three Elks prominently involved in the donation: (L-R) Robert Holder, Exalted Ruler Alex Wilson, and Jack Bird. Photograph ordered by Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174. (TNT 4-4-67, p. 7)

Trucks--Tacoma--1960-1970; Gifts; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Holder, Robert; Wilson, Alex; Bird, Jack;

The new Elks Temple under construction at 1965 So. Union Ave. in June, 1965. The 1.5 million dollar structure is located on the west side of Cedar St., 700 feet south of So. 19th. Ground was broken on April 25, 1964, for the project; seventeen months later in September, 1965, the temple would be dedicated. Eastwardly view of Elks Temple in left lower corner, Allenmore Golf Course, and freeway in the distance.

Aerial photographs; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma);

Dedication of new Elks Temple. Elks and their guests stand at attention, hands over hearts, as the American flag is raised on the flagpole in front of the new Elks Temple on September 3, 1965. The flag was presented to the lodge by Emmett T. Anderson. The honor guard consisted of representatives of the 35th Engineers Battalion, Fort Lewis. Boy Scouts Kerk Ristroffer and Don King also assisted in flag ceremonies. After decades in downtown Tacoma, the Elks built a new 76,000 square foot temple on the west side of Cedar, 700 feet south of So. 19th St. Ground was broken in April, 1964, on the $2,000,000 project. Nearly 50 years later, the Elks temple remains at the same location. (TNT 9-4-54, p. 1, TNT 9-3-65, p. 1)

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1960-1970; Building dedications--Tacoma--1960-1970; Flag salutes--Tacoma--1960-1970; Flags--United States; Flagpoles--Tacoma;

Memorial services - Elks Temple. Memorial services to honor "absent Brothers" were held at the Tacoma Elks Lodge #174 on Wednesday evening the 2nd of December, 1970. Large arrangements of flowers and small potted trees graced the stage steps. White gates were placed before a backdrop of trees and a large white building shown in the distance. Photograph ordered by the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174.

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Elks Temple (Tacoma); Memorial rights & ceremonies--Tacoma--1970-1980; Flowers--Tacoma;

Contestants in the Elks Club 21st annual Salmon Derby, victorious or not, enjoy a salmon bake outside the lodge's 1965 So. Union Ave. address on September 17, 1967. Rows of tables are set up for the hundreds of members who participated in the fishing contest. 1690 men were served. (TNT 9-18-67, p. 16)

Salmon; Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1960-1970; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Fishing; Contests--Tacoma--1960-1970; Eating & drinking--Tacoma;

1967 Richards stock file. An aerial look at the Elks Temple taken on October 28, 1967, shows the home of one of the largest Elks memberships in the world. The new structure was dedicated in September, 1965. Members could enjoy a plethora of activities including fine dining, sports, and dancing. To the left is the Allenmore Medical Center, 1901 So. Union, which also opened in 1965.

Aerial photographs; Elks Temple (Tacoma); Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Parking lots--Tacoma--1960-1970; Allenmore Medical Center (Tacoma);

View by air of the new Tacoma Elks Temple being constructed in the 1900 block of So. Union Ave. in June of 1965. The building was designed by the architectural firm of E.L. Mills & Associates and built by Strom Construction Co. using reinforced concrete and structural steel. Tacoma Lodge No. 174, one of the largest Elks Club memberships in the world, had voted to build a new temple away from its 50-year location on Broadway. The 1.5 million dollar (later cost revised to 2 million dollars) temple would be dedicated on September 3, 1965, amidst celebrating the lodge's upcoming 75th anniversary.

Aerial photographs; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1960-1970;

New Elks Temple dedication. An extremely large pair of shears, bedecked with ribbon, awaits ribbon-cutting ceremonies at the new Elks Temple dedication on September 3, 1965. (L-R) Grand Exalted Ruler R. Leonard Bush of Inglewood, California, Harry Potter, Tacoma Elks member, and H.A. Wollen, Exalted Ruler are posed, along with the scissors, behind the purple satin ribbon. They are standing beneath the cursive Elks signage. Mr. Potter, age 87, was a 42-year member of the Lodge No. 174 and had purchased the first building bond. When handed the scissors, he deftly snipped the ribbon so quickly that most photographers did not manage to catch him in action. Tacoma May Harold Tollefson, who was in attendance and had performed a number of ribbon cuttings himself, was reportedly green with envy at the speed and smoothness exhibited by Mr. Potter. (TNT 9-3-65, p. 1, TNT 9-4-65, p. 1)

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1960-1970; Building dedications--Tacoma--1960-1970; Bush, R. Leonard; Potter, Harry; Wollen, H.A.; Scissors & shears; Signs (Notices);

Cheerleaders and yell kings from eleven local high schools, public and private, were among those represented at the Elks Club, 1965 So. Union Ave., on March 30, 1966. Many are wearing their school's uniforms. Also in attendance at the Elks weekly meeting were representatives from the schools' wrestling, baseball and track teams and coaches. Photograph ordered by the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174. (TNT 3-31-66, C-8)

Elks Temple (Tacoma); Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Cheerleading--Tacoma--1960-1970; Students--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Banners acknowledging the various public and private high schools in the Tacoma area are hung above a large group of students, including cheerleaders and yell kings, at the Elks Temple on March 30, 1966. Flanking the students are many prominent Elks including H.A. Wollen, Exalted Ruler. Athletes and pep squads from eleven Tacoma-area schools held an "old-fashioned pep rally" before 1000+ Elks at their weekly meeting. Photograph ordered by the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174. (TNT 3-31-66, C-8)

Elks Temple (Tacoma); Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Cheerleading--Tacoma--1960-1970; Students--Tacoma--1960-1970; Banners--Tacoma;

A crowd of over 300 Elks members and their guests gathered for the dedication of the new Elks Temple at 1965 South Union Avenue on September 3, 1965. Built on a 20.5 acre site on the west side of Cedar close to So. 19th St. at a cost of approximately $2,000,000, the temple was designed by Tacoma architects E.L. Mills & Associates and erected by Strom Construction. It took 1 1/2 years to complete the project. Constructed of reinforced concrete and structural steel, the new Elks Temple's 76,000 square feet contained a theater-style lodge room seating 1,000, administrative offices, handball courts and other athletic facilities, and dining facilities, including a cocktail lounge. During dedication ceremonies, a copper box was sealed behind the cornerstone; among items contained in the box was a copy of the Tacoma Elks Charter. (See C145725-1 for view of the charter.) (TNT 4-25-65, p. 2, TNT 9-3-65, p. 1, TNT 9-4-65, p. 1) TPL-9357

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1960-1970; Building dedications--Tacoma--1960-1970; Spectators--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Helping to select a nice, juicy piece of baked salmon is a member of the Tacoma Elks Lodge No. 174 at the conclusion of the club's 21st annual Salmon Derby on September 17, 1967. Contestants lined up at the lodge's 1965 So. Union Ave. address to feast on the catches of the day. Some 1820 lodge members tried their luck in the derby with Al Marano coming in first with a chinook weighing in at 22 lb. 4 oz. 1690 contestants ate at the salmon dinner. (TNT 9-18-67, p. 16)

Salmon; Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1960-1970; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Contests--Tacoma--1960-1970; Eating & drinking--Tacoma;