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B.P.O. Elks Lodge (Hartford, Connecticut) facts for kids

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B.P.O. Elks Lodge
Elks Lodge BPOE 19.jpg
B.P.O. Elks Lodge (Hartford, Connecticut) is located in Connecticut
B.P.O. Elks Lodge (Hartford, Connecticut)
Location in Connecticut
B.P.O. Elks Lodge (Hartford, Connecticut) is located in the United States
B.P.O. Elks Lodge (Hartford, Connecticut)
Location in the United States
Location 34 Prospect St., Hartford, Connecticut
Area less than one acre
Built 1903 (1903)
Architect John J. Dwyer
Architectural style Classical Revival
MPS Hartford Downtown MRA
NRHP reference No. 84000753
Added to NRHP December 23, 1984

The B.P.O. Elks Lodge is a very old and important building located at 34 Prospect Street in Hartford, Connecticut. It was built in 1903 for a club called the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. This building was designed by an architect named John J. Dwyer. Its style is known as Classical Revival architecture, which means it looks a bit like ancient Greek or Roman buildings. Because of its beautiful design, the Elks Lodge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. This means it's recognized as a special historical place.

The Elks Lodge: A Historic Building

The Elks Lodge in Hartford is found just south of Downtown Hartford. It sits on the east side of Prospect Street. Right across the street, you can see the back of the Wadsworth Atheneum, which is a famous art museum.

What Does This Building Look Like?

The building is about two and a half stories tall. It is made of yellow bricks. You can also see special details made from brownstone and limestone. These details include "egg-and-dart" moldings, which are decorative patterns that look like eggs and arrows.

A Peek Inside: What's Special?

The inside of the Elks Lodge is just as impressive as the outside. It has lots of beautiful wooden details. The building was designed by John J. Dwyer, a local architect. He created many important buildings in Hartford.

The Elks Lodge has some of the best-preserved interior spaces from its time. On the ground floor, there are several meeting rooms with wood panels. These rooms are connected by arched doorways and columns.

The main staircase is made of dark mahogany wood. It leads up to the main meeting hall. A skylight above the staircase lets in natural light, making the area bright. The meeting hall itself is decorated with fancy Baroque woodwork. Many original features are still in the building today. One cool example is a large iron lever. This lever was used to dim the lights in the meeting hall!

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