Elks lodge 2306 of Jefferson will celebrate its 50th anniversary at an invitation-only banquet at the lodge this Saturday, Oct. 18.
Exalted ruler Hollie Roberts has chosen as her theme this golden anniversary year “Honoring the past, embracing the future.” In keeping with that theme, the Elks are celebrating the anniversary, as well as making major improvements to their building and gearing up for a membership drive early in 2015.
History- Talk of a local Elks lodge began in 1963, and the charter was granted June 11, 1964. Institution ceremonies were held at the high school gymnasium (now the middle school) as which 239 men were initiated as charger members. Howard Nelson was installed as the first exalted ruler.
With a financial guarantee from a lodge member, the current Jefferson lodge building was purchased in the fall of 1964. The building was first built as an armory in 1927 and served the community as gymnasium for school sporting events and community functions for many years. Following the purchase of the building, extensive remodeling, mostly by volunteer help from the members, converted the large basketball gymnasium into a ballroom, meeting room, lounge, kitchen, dining room, restrooms and offices.
Ongoing remodeling has continued throughout the years and continues today from volunteer help. In 1997, a mural was painted by Carl Homstad of Decorah, depicting an Iowa country side. The mural covers the entire north side of the building while the west side mural is of early telephone workers. The mural was repainted this spring. Both times the murals were donated by Jefferson Telephone Company, now Jefferson Telecom.
Community service- The Elks have maintained their building as a hub for the community for 50 years. Community events such as Beta Tau Delta’s long-running Charity Ball, high school proms, pancake breakfasts, chili suppers, firemen’s dances, benefits and Boy Scout functions have all been held at the lodge, as well as countless wedding receptions, anniversary parties and family reunions.
Along with providing a location when few other venues were available in the community, the Elks have served youth, veterans and children.
For many years, the Elks have given dictionaries to every third grader in Greene County. They have sponsored the annual Hoop Shoot contest and an essay contest for sixth graders, provided more than $130,000 in scholarships for graduating high school students, and more.
The Elks have long supported projects at the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown. They assist with the Memorial Day Avenues of Flags at the Jefferson municipal and St Joseph Catholic cemeteries, the hold a Flag Day ceremony as part of the Bell Tower Festival, and they host a Heroes Dinner for veterans, active duty military, law enforcement and emergency responders on Sept. 11.
The Elks for decades have hosted a free Christmas Day dinner at the lodge, welcoming all area residents who would otherwise mark the day alone. Their efforts have garnered funds from the Elks National Foundation for community projects to benefit the Jefferson public library, Thomas Jefferson Gardens, the VFW, and more.
For a more complete list of the contributions of Elks lodge 2306 to the community, click here: Elks Care.
The membership of the Jefferson lodge reached its peak in the early 1970s with 605 members and currently has a membership of 320 members. The city of Jefferson is the smallest community in the state of Iowa to have an Elks lodge. Of the 30 Elks lodges in the state, Jefferson Elks lodge remains in the top one third in the state for number of members in the lodge.
Persons who would like more information about the Jefferson Elks lodge can contact exalted ruler Hollie Roberts at 515-386-4555.
