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Rockford Elk's Lodge No. 64

Coordinates: 42°16′30″N 89°5′35″W / 42.27500°N 89.09306°W / 42.27500; -89.09306
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Rockford Elk's Lodge #64
Rockford Elk's Lodge No. 64 is located in Illinois
Rockford Elk's Lodge No. 64
Rockford Elk's Lodge No. 64 is located in the United States
Rockford Elk's Lodge No. 64
Location210 W. Jefferson
Rockford, Illinois
Coordinates42°16′30″N 89°5′35″W / 42.27500°N 89.09306°W / 42.27500; -89.09306
Arealess than one acre
Built1912 (1912)
Built byW. H. Cook
ArchitectLawrence P. Buck
Part ofWest Downtown Rockford Historic District (ID07000899)
NRHP reference No.05000113[1]
Added to NRHPFebruary 28, 2005

Rockford Elk's Lodge #64 is a historic building in Rockford, Illinois, United States originally used by a chapter of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. It is individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is also part of the West Downtown Rockford Historic District.

History

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The first Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks chapter in Rockford, Illinois was founded in 1887. They met until they disbanded in 1893. In 1901, the group re-organized and was granted a charter as lodge #64 the next year. They originally met in the Winnedbago Lodge Room of the Nelson House hotel. In 1908, Phillip Smith appointed a committee to examine the possibility of constructing a permanent home for the organization. In February of the next year, the lodge purchased the lot at the corner of North Main and Peach (now Jefferson) Streets.[2]

Lawrence P. Buck of Chicago was selected as the architect; it is unknown why he was chosen. It was constructed over seventeen months, opening on February 7, 1913. An addition was built in 1929 to house a swimming pool, gymnasium, dining room, and bachelor quarters. The lodge used the building until 1990, when it was sold due to dwindling membership. It sat vacant for fourteen years, when it was donated to The Abilities Center, Goodwill Industries. The building was recognized by the National Park Service with a listing on the National Register of Historic Places on February 28, 2005. On September 5, 2007, the building was also listed as a contributing property to the West Downtown Rockford Historic District.[2]

References

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  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ a b Illinois Historic Preservation Agency