Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge (Montrose, Colorado) facts for kids
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Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge
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The property in 2014.
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 Location in Colorado
Location in the United States
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| Location | 107 S. Cascade Ave., Montrose, Colorado |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1927 |
| Built by | White & Okey |
| Architect | Antrobus, J.H. |
| Architectural style | Mixed style |
| NRHP reference No. | 04000260 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 6, 2004 |
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge, also known as the Elks Civic Building, is a special historic building in Montrose, Colorado, United States. It was built in 1927 and first served as a meeting place for the Elks lodge, which is a community group.
After 1969, the building was used for different purposes. It was home to a college and later housed city offices. In recent years, it has become the city's Visitors' Center, helping people learn about Montrose. This important building is listed on both the Colorado State Register of Historic Properties and the National Register of Historic Places.
Contents
Building History
How the Elks Lodge Started
The Elks Lodge 1053 group first formed in Montrose in late 1906. They were connected to another Elks group in Ouray, Colorado. For many years, they met in different places.
Construction of the Lodge
In 1926, the Elks decided to build their own special meeting place. An architect named J.H. Antrobus designed the building. The company White and Okey was chosen to build it.
Construction started in early 1927. The first stone, called the cornerstone, was placed on November 18, 1926. About 75 Elks members watched this important event. The building cost $34,600 to build, which was a lot of money back then! The Elks officially moved into their new lodge on May 26, 1927.
New Uses for the Building
The Elks Lodge was a busy place for the group until 1969. That year, the Elks moved to a brand new building in downtown Montrose. The old lodge then found new life.
From 1969 to 1972, it was used by Colorado Western College. Unfortunately, the college closed because it didn't have enough money. Later, from 1976 to 2003, Montrose County Social Services used the building.
In 2003, the City of Montrose bought the building for $400,000. They fixed it up to use as city offices and renamed it the "Elks Civic Building."
Becoming a Historic Landmark
The building was recognized as a historic site on March 10, 2004. It was added to the Colorado State Register of Historic Properties. Soon after, it was also listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 6, 2004. It earned this honor because of its important role in the community's social history and its interesting design.
Building Design
The Elks Civic Building has a unique look. It mixes different styles, including Mission Revival, Pueblo Deco, and Late Gothic Revival.
The outside of the building is mostly made of light-colored bricks. These bricks are laid in a pattern called "running bond." There are also red bricks used to create interesting details.
On the curved top part of the building, you can see a stone block with the number "1053" carved into it. Below that, the letters "BPOE" are formed by red bricks. These letters stand for "Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks."
