The Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau recently announced the Elks Club building on Main Street in Columbus was purchased and would become the home of a new children’s museum. The building itself is a historic structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places. There are also many interesting stories it could tell.
The Columbus Elks Club was organized in 1899 and, under the sponsorship of the Birmingham Elks Club, was chartered in 1900 as Columbus Lodge No. 555, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. The club grew rapidly, and plans were made to build a club facility in downtown around the time its charter was granted. Construction was soon started, and the impressive brick clubhouse at the top of River Hill on Main Street was completed in 1901.
The Elks Club building quickly became a center of social life, not only for its members, but also for other groups that used the building for parties and other occasions. Events held at the Elks Club during the years after its completion provide an interesting look at turn-of-the-century social life in Columbus.
For the 4th of July celebration in 1902, the Elks hosted a “flag-raising and barbecue.” The day started at 8:30 a.m. with the raising of a “handsome United States flag” on the flagpole at the Elks Home on Main Street. The flag was raised as a band played The Star Spangled Banner. Members of the lodge and their guests then left on a train for a barbecue that was held at “Cox’s Mill, the lava beds.” The barbecue featured speeches by Gen. E T Sykes and Judge J T Harrison.
Other special occasions that were celebrated included birthdays such as Harrison Johnston’s 89th birthday in 1904. Johnston, who was apparently not happy with numbers being given to streets in Columbus, said he lived at “the corner of Lafayette and Cat-Fish Alley South.” At an “informal reception” honoring Johnston at the Elks Home, a course of roast turkey, roast beef, lettuce and tomato salad, celery and broiled quail, olives and pickles were served. The “party was liberally supplied with ‘Elk’s Milk'” to drink.
The elk’s Home was the frequent location of dances. Often the music was supplied by Taylor’s Orchestra. The Columbus orchestra was composed of fourteen musicians.
One of the more interesting events at the Elks Club occurred in November 1903. Actress Katie Emmett was appearing in “The Waif of New York” at the Columbus Opera House. A reception was held for her at the Elks Home after her performance because she was the “only lady Elk” in America. She was described as “not only an accomplished actress but a most charming lady as well.”
The Elks Home has not been without excitement. In 1905, John Sale and John Bell got into a heated and public dispute after Bell had written a letter questioning Sale’s mother’s integrity. Bell was seen one afternoon walking up and down the sidewalk in front of the Gilmer Hotel after the dispute had festered for several days. Sale was at the Elks Club eating dinner. Several people saw what might be developing and warned the chief of police that “there was trouble brewing.”
Sale walked out after finishing his meal and approached Bell on the sidewalk. Words were exchanged, and both men pulled pistols. Sale shot and killed Bell in the confrontation that followed.
There is a lot of history to be told at the site of what will be the Children’s museum.
Rufus Ward is a local historian. Email your questions about local history to him at [email protected].
Rufus Ward is a Columbus native a local historian. E-mail your questions about local history to Rufus at [email protected].
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