“I want this whole year to be special,” said Exalted Ruler Ralph Graham. “I want to honor those who have made our lodge strong for an entire century.”
Graham noted that from the lodge’s origin in 1902 to the present time, the local Elks have been a progressive club and a leader in the charitable works in Marion.
“When you look back at all the names of Elks members over the past 100 years, you see the names of people who made our community strong,” Graham said.
William H. Bundy served as the Marion Elks first exalted ruler. Others serving as officers included W.H. Warder, J.M. Young, O.H. Burnett, George C Campbell, H. Spieldoch, T.L. Dowell, O.J. Page, O.S. Schneider, Sandy Miller, Karl Wolf, M. Cantor, and C.W Schwerdt.
According to the lodge’s history, Marion’s lodge was instituted on August 1, 1902, by officers of Murphysboro Lodge No. 572. Their team traveled by special train and brought its own band.
The Elks’ first home was in the Denison Building on the north side of the Public Square where the Bank of Marion now stands. The second home was in the Dunaway Building over the old F.W. Woolworth Store.
In 1907, Jean Burkhart was elected exalted ruler. Burkhart appointed a building committee including, Wm. H. Warder, James M. Young, Hogan Williford, Ed Gill, and Roy Binkley. A lot on which to build was purchased for $5,000 and Spencer and Temple, of Champaign, were hired as architects.
Although much effort on the part of all the members had gone into the erection of this building, the full share of the responsibility was placed in the hands of the building committee and treasurer who were charged with the additional burden of raising sufficient funds. One hundred dollar bonds with 6% interest were issued, due 20 years after the date secured by the first mortgage.
The sales of these bonds had proceeded better than expected when in the fall of the year the Panic of 1907 hit Marion. In order to raise funds to pay for furnishing the building, Brother Noah Payne staged a Street Fair or Carnival. The Fair lasted for a full week and every day a new program was featured. The wives supplied booths and wondrous cakes, candies made from special recipes, and fancy needle craft. Others resorted to fortune telling.
However, the booth which attracted the largest crowds for the longest time was the cigar stand run by Grandma Simmons and Grandma Cline, for there Grandma Cline could be found smoking a pipe and Grandma Simmons a cigar.
In 1908 the $22,000.00 building was completed and appointed with the most modern walnut and leather furniture, paid by the $2,500 proceeds from the Fair. Brother Frank E. Powell was Exalted Ruler when the dedication ceremonies took place on May 6, 1908. District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler H.A. Shephard dedicated the new home to the uses of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. The Lodge had respectfully invited all Elks to be present and assist.
On May 7, 1908, the swank new building had its first gala affair, the dedicational reception and banquet, followed by a dance. The Elks were prepared for many visitors as the Lodge Home was comparable only to those of Springfield and larger cities. On the morning of the affair the band and members went to welcome the special trains bearing their visitors, though it was raining a flood.
When they arrived at the station, they were met by one lone visitor, Brother Batson of Carbondale. In the evening everyone did arrive from the neighboring towns. Brother Leon Denison of Cairo came to lead the cotillion. It was the most formal affair, the ladies wearing their most chic formals and the men attired in top hat, white tie and tails.
The music was supplied by a Peg-Leg Orchestra from Paducah. The program for the evening included vocal solos by Ethel Burkhart and Lelle Goodall, a reading by Metta Davis and an instrumental solo by Hortense Campbell. This was a social function to be long remembered by the members and their guests.
The first building served them until 1985, when a new building was erected that is still in use.
Part Two
Brother William C. Nance was elected Exalted Ruler in 1909-1910, and Brother A.M. Edwards in 1910-1911. In 1910 Brother George H. Nance was elected secretary replacing George C. Campbell who had served continuously since the inception of the Lodge. Brother Nance served as secretary for two years when George C. Campbell again became secretary, a position he then held continuously until his death in 1932. Brother L.W. Borton served as Exalted Ruler in 1911-1912, and Brother Leon A. Colp in 1912-1913.
During this period the Elks Lodge had many social events and activities. Prominent among these were the combination basket picnic and dance held each year at Creal Springs from around 1910 to 1925.
Early in this period people went by train or by two horse rig as they desired; later they traveled over the dusty roads by car. Often these affairs would last two days and overnight. Accommodations were required at the Ozark Hotel.
This annual picnic has been renewed in recent years, being held at Crab Orchard Lake until 1952 when it was held on Brother Oel Norris’ farm.
During the early years of the Williamson County Fair, before the advent of evening programs, the Marion Elks held a dance in their Lodge on Thursday evening. These were always well attended functions.
In addition to their charitable and social activities, the Lodge boasted a baseball team. The members of the team included: Leroy Binkley, D.T. Hartwell, Fred Stotlar, Frank Powell, Leon Colp, Hubert Crane, Robert Colp, Paul Colp, Fred Walker, Tubby Graves and John Pillow.
The custom of holding a Homecoming each year in December was established in 1910 and has continued through the years until the present date. Even during the years when the Lodge was at its lowest ebb this method of raising funds for our Christmas charities was continued.
The earlier Homecomings had as an important part of the program a carnival and auction. Marion merchants donated merchandise while ladies of the Elks contributed candies and cakes for the auction sale.
Merchandise was often sold, donated again and resold, netting the Lodge substantial profits. Many innovations have been added through the years. Large parades have been held with merchants and other organizations competing for prizes but one custom that has continued through the years is the comedy police force and the Kangaroo Court. The police force was originally used to make sure that erring Brothers did not let the matter of not having their dues paid or what they thought was important business, keep them from enjoying the festivities and contributing their share to charity.
The Kangaroo court has, always been a place where justice prevailed and the erring Brothers brought before it have, in most cases, been glad to pay the fines assessed. The bench of the court has always been occupied by fair and impartial men and many of them have gone on to serve the county and state in courts of justice.
The fact that food and entertainment awaited the culprits after they had settled with the Judge often helped salve their wounded feelings after justice had prevailed. The paddy wagon used for the convenience of the wayward Brothers has kept pace with the times. Starting with a horse drawn vehicle in the early days and progressing to the use of a dismantled fire truck in the later years.
Originally held on the Thursday closest to the 15th of December, it has been changed in the later years to the Friday and Saturday following our Memorial Service, which is held on the first Sunday in December. At the time when the celebration was changed from a one day to a two day affair, a dance was added bringing the Homecoming to a close on Saturday night.
Brother Paul B. Wilson had the honor of being the first member to serve two full terms as Exalted Ruler, 1913-1915. A Minstrel with a cast of 35 Brother Elks, complete with cutaways and top hats, was the headline for February 22-23, 1915. The cast, headed by a two-horse rig, paraded through the mire of South Market Street. (See Attached Photo)
Memorial Services are held each year to commemorate the memory of the departed brothers. This is a most solemn and impressive ritual, and is observed by all Lodges. Although several members can remember previous services, the earliest program in existence for Marion Lodge is dated December 3, 1916. These services have continued to be held annually on the first Sunday in December.
Brother E.E. Woodsides was Exalted Ruler for four consecutive terms from 1915-1919. District Deputy Exalted Ruler M.W. Snell of Litchfield who was present in the fourth installation, said that to his knowledge “this was the only Lodge in the state that had returned their head officers in that manner.”
Beginning the week of May 13, 1917, a Spring Festival was held on the Missouri Pacific lots on North Market Street under the auspices of B.P.O.E. Building Improvement Fund. They were fortunate in contracting the Great United Shows, “one of the largest, most moral and meritorious traveling amusement organizations on the road traveling in their own private train of 15 cars and carrying 300 people, and one of the largest portable Ferris wheels in addition to the $15,000 four abreast jumping horses carry all.” The proceeds were used to refurnish the Elks Home, long a headquarters for public gatherings for charity. A part of the proceeds were donated to the Red Cross Fund.
In April 1919, Past Exalted Ruler Leon A. Colp was re-elected as Exalted Ruler and he served three terms to 1922. During his administration the Lodge made one of its largest membership gains from 320 to 454.
However, it was during the three year term of Exalted Ruler Fred R. Martin 1922-1925 that a membership of 455 in 1923 was reached highest prior to 1945.
During World War 1, the Marion Elks had a long Honor Roll with 45 members in uniform. On the Memorial Day Services, December 10, 1918, Judge Neely spoke of their heroism and of the one departed brother, Earl Pillow who died November 25, 1918.
On April 17, 1919, the Grand Lodge in cooperation with the U.S. Government started a program to train vocationally all disabled veterans at no expense to them. Many veterans had to be trained by a private agency because they could not be aided through existing government regulations. Exalted Ruler Leon Colp appointed a Soldier Friend Committee to assist in this work.
This committee consisted of Brothers E. E. Woodside, S.K. Casey, H.A. Felts, Oldham Paisley and L.O. Caplinger. On June 1, 1919, a most uncommon initiation occurred. After a month of fasting, Cline Cunningham’s pet goat was mounted in turn by the six initiates, who were hard pressed to demonstrate their prowess. The six included Otis Graves, Clyde Spiller, Emmitt Elder, Robert Williams, Sidney Sage and C.B. Hoye.
March, 1921, the Marion State Basketball Champions with invited friends were guests at a banquet held in the basement of the Lodge. The 60 guests thoroughly enjoyed the supper prepared and served in Cline Cunningham’s own style of chicken with oyster dressing. French peas, creamed potatoes, olives and pickles, fruit salad, ice cream and cake. Following the banquet reception open to the public, was held on the main floor of the Lodge.
On July 28, 1921, the Marion Elks Building Association was instructed to purchase the lot in the rear of their present building. The trustees, anticipating this instruction, had already purchased the lot for $4,000 which they then turned over to the Lodge. After obtaining permission of the City Council to remove the curb and gutter of the new lot on West College Street, the Elks planned to use it as a parking area for club members. It would accommodate approximately 16 cars and this would “allow more parking spaces for the general public.”
After the Elks bought the ground and building in 1921, they sold it to the Marion American Legion Post, which was without a home at the time. Later, they bought it back from the Legion, at a high price in about 1948 to enable the Legion to buy a larger home of their own. The house was then moved away and the lot converted into a parking place for the use of members and visiting Elks.
Brother S.F. Morrison was elected in March, 1921, as alternate delegate to the Grand Lodge convention in Los Angeles. This was the 18th time that Brother Morrison had been elected as alternate delegate and this time he had promised to attend, although “he had never gotten closer to the Grand Lodge than the bottling works.”
The First Military Dance in Marion was successful despite rain which lessened the attendance, November 11, 1924. The Reserve Officers of the Elks sponsored this affair. The music was furnished by the Harmony Boys from Cairo. All officers attended in full uniform except in a few cases where they had outgrown their service outfits. This dance was one of the most colorful Marion had had for a long time.
From the high of 455 members in 1923 there was a slow but steady drop in membership during the terms of Exalted ruler John Fowler, 1925-1926, Exalted Ruler Reuel K. Youngblood, 1926 1927, and Exalted Ruler J. R. Browning, 1927 1928. This decrease was a forerunner of ominous times.
Bonds had become due and many of these were redeemed by extending Life Memberships, a practice which helped alleviate the situation for a time, was later to cause additional financial problems because of the loss of yearly revenue.
January 19, 1928, was another red-letter day in the annals of the Marion Lodge. A class of 92 candidates from 13 cities in the Southern District of Illinois received their degrees in the largest initiations of local Elkdom. Grand Exalted Ruler Judge John Malley of Boston, Mass., was present during the initiation ritual.
Over 500 Elks attended this initiation and first official visit of a Grand Exalted Ruler. Lodges represented were Marion, Herrin, West Frankfort, Cairo, Carbondale, Murphysboro, Metropolis, DuQuoin, Harrisburg and Benton. Following Grand Exalted Ruler Malley’s address, Exalted Ruler J. Roy Browning presented him with a copy of Sandberg’s Abraham Lincoln.
(Source: Marion Lodge #800, Golden Anniversary booklet; reprinted in the Marion Daily Republican in 2002)