Lamar Elks Lodge #1319: A History
1914 – In the early winter a few Elks, who belonged
to La Junta Lodge #701, gathered in Paul Dennings’ drug
store and decided that Lamar should have an Elks Lodge. A
committee, consisting of Leon Butler, T.J. Sayler, P.W. Denning,
Fred Lee, A.C. Mitchell and Cora R. Strain, was appointed
to get a list of prospective members and arrange for a lodge
in Lamar, They succeeded too well, getting over 100 signers.
At the advice of Grand Lodge, this list was cut to 50.
1915 – A Dispensation was granted from Grand Lodge
on April 15th, charter number 1319 was issued and Lamar Lodge
was organized on May 24th, the city’s 29th birthday.
La Junta Lodge #701 instituted this lodge, together with members
of all lodges in the state. Cora R. Strain was elected the
first Exalted Ruler.
1921 – A group of Lamar Elks chartered a special train
and went 100 miles east to Garden City, Kansas, where they
organized the Garden City Lodge #1404. The flood of 1921 flooded
the building site, Paul Steward, who had a monument shop across
the street was surveying the flooded scene and saw Ted Applegate
wading across the street and suddenly disappear. Soon he came
bobbing up and Paul realized that Ted must have stepped into
one of the holes dug for the new building. We nearly lost
a future Exalted Ruler that time.
1922 – Construction on the new lodge home began. The
corner stone was laid with great ceremony. Eddie Tefertiller,
who grew up to be Elks’ Club manager and father of PER
Bill Tefertiller, recalls watching three teams of horses with
slips, digging the basement for the new building. Peter Lynch,
father of Mrs. Ray Strain, was head of the building crew.
1923 – The grand new $75,000.00 home was dedicated
on July 24th of this year.
1928 – Tragedy struck Lamar and the Elks Lodge when
the Fleagle gang robbed the First National Bank and killed
the president, Elk Brother, A.N. Parrish and his son, Brother
John Parrish.
1929 – On the 14th anniversary of the charter, a large
gathering of Elks from all sister lodges in the state met
for the burning of the mortgage. The Lamar Lodge #1319 was
free of debt.
1955 – In honor of the 40th anniversary of the Lamar
charter, 40 new members were initiated, including Elwood McKibbon
as Exalted Ruler. PER Fred Applegate, longtime scoutmaster
for Troop 218, received the Silver Beaver ward from the Boy
Scouts of America for his outstanding service.
1962 – Lamar took the ritual team to state contest
for the first time, after placing 2nd, behind Pueblo, at district.
Land was purchased south of town from Brother Ernest Eddleman
at $100.00 per acre, with the intention of building a new
Elks Lodge and golf course.
1963-64 – Ground was broken for the new building, with
Exalted Ruler Dean Whitney at the helm. In March, the city
leased 40 acres of land to the lodge for the purpose of starting
a public golf course. This was the year that, after months
of practice, the ritual team was ready to go to district contest.
At the last moment, Leading Knight Wally Repphun went into
the hospital for emergency surgery. The team called in Lloyd
Frands to sit in his place, took a 1% penalty for the substitute
and not only placed first, but put 5 men on the All District
Team.
1965-66 – THAT WAS THE YEAR THAT WAS!! The new building
was being completed and the 50th anniversary of the charter
was commemorated by a meeting which was dedicated to Arthur
Gordon, the only living charter member. Unfortunately, Brother
Gordon was unable to attend, since he was ill and in Sacred
Heart Hospital at the time. The following month, in mid-June,
the flood hit Lamar. The new building was safe, on higher
elevation, south of town, but the building downtown was flooded.
PER Oscar Noble recalls that the
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basement was filled with water and Wood Funeral
Home brought their caskets across the street and stored them
in the lodge room, since that was out of danger. There were
no lodge meetings until fall of that year, since the new building
was not quite ready. Exalted Ruler Morton Wyatt conducted
the last Lodge meeting in the old building and the first in
the new building. Mrs. Ed Jones presented the new lodge with
a set of beautiful chimes in memory of her husband, who had
died earlier that year. PER Oscar Noble has kept these chimes
in working order. The first Elk of the Year was named, Don
Currell, who had been designer and building contractor. Charles
O. “Chuck” Anderson was building superintendent.
1966-67 – The first big inter-lodge event was held
in the new building when the district ritual contest was held
in Lamar.
1967-68 – The lodge leased the golf course to the city
of Lamar. A contest was held to name the course and out of
over 1,500 names submitted, Spreading Antlers was selected.
Richard Michael Bosley, son of Exalted Ruler Walter Bosley,
submitted the winning name. PER Al Payne became club room
manager.
1969-70 – Exalted Ruler Oscar Noble accepted the Tablet
of Memory which was donated to the lodge by the Past Exalted
Rules, under the leadership of PER Frank Doughtery. It is
of cast bronze and made like a book. On its inner leaves are
engraved the names of our departed brothers. Grover Carrico
Night honored this 52 year member who was PER, DDGER and had
served every office in the lodge. Dr. William Dowell, later
to be exalted ruler, was awarded a special citation from Grand
Lodge for signing up 15 Century members to the Elks National
Foundation. Lamar hosted the state quarterly convention this
year.
1975-76 – The cornerstone box from the old building
was opened with great formality, with Exalted Ruler Ray Hays
presiding at the ceremony. Harry “Pug” Lee, the
only member who had been a member at the laying of this stone,
opened the box revealing a wide variety of objects. Many of
these items are still displayed in a large frame in the foyer
of the Lodge.
1980-81 – Brother Bill Caldwell, who was cook for the
lodge dining room in addition to his regular job, was in a
gasoline truck accident and seriously injured. He would have
died in the flaming truck had it not been for Brother Elk,
Dave Lundburg, of Holly, who rescued him, endangering his
own life in doing so. Bill spent many months recovering from
his injuries and Dave was awarded a medal for his heroic actions.
1987-88 – PER Ray Hays has the honor of installing
his son, Randall, as Exalted Ruler. Lamar Lodge hosted the
state quarterly meeting with the 425 delegates from 56 Colorado
Lodges in attendance. This was the year that Lamar established
the Fred L. Applegate Youth Foundation. The proceeded from
this foundation are used for the youth of the area. On April
1, 1987, the Lamar Lodge started Bingo every Thursday evening
and donated all proceeds to charity. Thousands of dollars
have been given to various causes since the advent of bingo.
1990 – PER Elwood McKibbon, who was initiated on the
Lodge’s 40th anniversary, was honored to install his
son, Tom, as Exalted Ruler, for the Lodge’s 75th anniversary
year. Elwood thus completed a record of having installed his
son in every office held.
1998 – Lamar Lodge #1319 became a sponsor of the Little
Britches Rodeo.
2003 – The Lodge added the 6 RV parking spaces at the
front of the lodge.
2004 – 400 sq. ft. addition to the clubroom is completed.
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