Paris Elks Lodge No. 812 Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Paris Elks Lodge No. 812 Building
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | 111 E. Washington St., Paris, Illinois |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1927 |
| Architect | Blackman, Everett |
| Architectural style | Mediterranean Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 87001343 |
| Added to NRHP | August 6, 1987 |
The Paris Elks Lodge No. 812 Building is a special old building located at 111 E. Washington Street in Paris, Illinois. It was once a meeting place for a group called the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. This group is a community organization that helps people and holds events. The Paris Elks Lodge had been around for 25 years before this building was constructed.
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What is the Paris Elks Lodge Building?
The Paris Elks Lodge building was built in 1927. It was designed by Everett Blackman, who was an architect and also a member of the Elks lodge. The building served as a central spot for the Elks members to gather. They used it for meetings, social events, and other activities.
A Look at the Building's Design
The building has a unique look because it was designed in the Mediterranean Revival style. This style often uses features found in buildings around the Mediterranean Sea. Architect Everett Blackman included several interesting parts in his design:
- An arcade loggia at the front entrance. An arcade is a row of arches, and a loggia is a covered outdoor hallway. This created a welcoming entrance.
- A square tower with a special roof called a parapet roof. This roof was made to look like elk antlers, which is a nod to the Elks organization.
What Was Inside?
The Elks Lodge building had many different rooms for its members to use.
- On the second floor, there was a ballroom where events and dances could be held.
- In the basement, there was a bowling alley for fun and games.
- There were also many meeting rooms for the lodge members to gather and plan activities.
Interestingly, the third floor of the building was connected to the nearby France Hotel. It had rooms that were part of the hotel. You could only get to these rooms from the hotel itself, not from the lower floors of the Elks Lodge.
A Historic Landmark
The Elks used this building as their meeting place until 1978. After that, the lodge stopped using the building for their activities. Because of its unique design and history, the building was recognized as important. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 6, 1987. This means it's considered a special historical site that should be preserved.
