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The year was 1897 on a cold March 22nd. The
festivities began with a parade down Victor Ave. After the
parade, a dinner, fit for a king, was held at the Opery House.
Thirty-seven charter members were initiated into the newly
formed Victor Elks #367. J.P. Casey was the first Exalted
Ruler. Incidentally, his name was also the first to be entered
on the Elks Memorial Tablet; as he passed away April 22, 1898
at the age of 36. The first Secretary was John Calderwood.
Information on the history of the Elks up to 1899 is scarce
as the fire of August 1899 destroyed many records.
During the first nine years of Elkdom, the Victor Elks leased
several different buildings for their Lodge Hall. They were
constantly in search of a permanent home. During 1900-1902
the Elks leased their Lodge Hall from Woods Investment Co.
The exact address is unknown. In the fall of 1902 they leased
the Miners Union Hall for their Lodge meetings. In December
1902, "The Victor Elks Club Association" was incorporated
for social purposes. The Association leased the Gold Coin
Club at 5th and Diamond and opened for business December 31,
1902. The Grand Opening of "The Elk Club" was held
on January 22, 1903. The Ladies Sessions assisted the Elks
members with the planning and festivities for the occasion.
This "Elks Club" closed in January 1903, due to
indebtedness from members not paying their bills.
A search for a permanent home for the Victor Elks continued
from 1902-1905. They rented the Masonic Hall and the Miners
Union Hall. In 1904, the Elks Building Association was organized
for the purpose of locating and purchasing a permanent Elks
Home. In 1905, shares were sold to raise money to purchase
a building. In December 1905, the Donnelly Building was purchased.
It was located at 410-412 Victor Avenue, accross from the
Fire Station. The building consisted of the main floor, billiard
hall, card room, reading and writing rooms; the upper level
was the Lodge Hall and banquet room and the lower level housed
the Victor Hardware Co. With minor renovation it was ready
for occupancy in January 1906.
The Elks Building Association renewed their
search for a more adequate building in 1909, A fire in the
Elks building in November 1912 caused approximate $5,000 in
damages to the building and furnishings. Sam Ranklin, who
ran the downstairs hardware store in the lower level, offered
to buy the building from the Elks. In December 1912 it was
sold to Mr. Ranklin and the Elks Building Association purchased
the Armory Hall for $5,000.00 The armory was built in 1905
for the Colorado State Militia.
In February 1913, the Elks gained final
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ownership after all legal matters
were taken care of. Over the next several months it was refurbished
to become a suitable Elks Home, with beautiful beveled grass
entrance and the brass Elks emblems on the doorknobs and handles.
The cost of the remodel in 1913 was $24,000. Labor day weekend
1913, the Victor Elks held a "Dedication and Top of the
World Celebration" to dedicate this new Elks Home in
the gorgeous massive building as we know it today. The upstairs
consist of a 2500 square foot Lodge Hall/Ballroom, a dining
room and kitchen, and a ladies lounge. In the early days the
women were not allowed on the main floor of the Elks Home.
They had their own entrance (to the north of the main entrance)
leading upstairs and to the ladies lounge. This was a large
eloquent lounge completely furnished with wicker furniture.
The main floor of the this majestic old building
had a bar, pool room, card room, reading and writing rooms.
The reading room was very eloquently furnished with leather
couches and chair and a huge brick fireplace, where one could
warm up on a cold night and enjoy the comforts of home.
The Elks Club was a rich man's club of mostly
mine owners and rich farmers. The story has been told that
in 1915 the members wanted to raise the dues to $50.00 a year
to keep out the undesirables.
There were a lot of mining claims won and lost
at the poker tables, with roulette wheels and slot machines
going nightly. The Elks Club's first slot machine was purchased
in 1913 for $28.00 from Mills Novelty Company in Chicago.
Porters were hired to serve the men. There were
"buttons" on the walls by the tables in the game
and reading rooms. When the men wanted a drink they would
push the button, the porter would hear the bell and check
the call box on the wall outside the bar, showing him from
which room the call was coming.
The Elks home has been remodeled at different
times over the years, but it is still the beautiful majestic
building it has always been. In 1929 the bar was moved from
the room in the back to its present location. In the 1980s
the Elkettes had the downstairs carpeted.
For all its years this Elks home has been a
"community center" with all types of functions held
within its walls.
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