Buffalo Elks Temple #23: 207 - 211 Delaware Avenue


elks temple
Postcard of the first location of the Elks Temple. Image source: private collection

The Buffalo Lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (B.P.O.E.) was chartered in 1884 as number 23. The fraternal organization, operating under the principles of Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love and Fidelity, met in a succession of five locations, including the Buffalo Builders Exchange, before they purchased the former George Starr Hazard mansion at 211 Delaware. The home, built in 1849, had an addition extending from the rear, which the Elks demolished and then constructed a 98 feet long, 44 feet wide structure, attached to the home by a conservatory. The new constuction, with the most modern ventilation and both gas and electric lighting, cost nearly $25,000. By the time the lodge finished renovating the house portion and furnishing the complex, they had spent nearly $100,000 of 1907 dollars ($2.3 million in 2010 dollars). The lodge had at this time 1,000 members.

elks drawing room
Image source: private collection

Also called the Grand Salon, the above room in the old home faced the lawn and was furnished in Louis XVI style. The mirror on the wall at left was from Hazard estate; it was valued at $250.

elks billiards
Image source:private collection
elks hall
The Lodge Hall with murals by Raphael Beck. See color images below. Image source: private collection.

Upstairs in the new addition was the Lodge Hall. To decorate the interior of the new Lodge Hall, the Elks held a competition for painters. From nine finalists, they selected Raphael Beck, locally famous because of his work for the Pan-American Exposition. He was paid $10,000 to create four large paintings and two ceiling murals.

crowning
12 x 24 feet
panels
Each panel 9 x 18 feet. Images source: private collection
flight
organ
The other end of the Lodge Hall, showing Charity mural and the organ. Image source: BECPL Scrapbook
charity

Elbert Hubbard said, "I am not a jiner, but if I ever jine the jiners, I will begin with the Elks and probably end there. Without any special written code or creed, the Elks stand for a certain standard of intellect and ethics. The man with an Elk's tooth on his watch chain, or the antlers in his button hole, has no quarrel with God. He accepts life and finds it good."

new elks
Architect's rendering of the new Elks Temple, 207 Delaware. Image source: BECPL Scrapbook

By 1925, the Lodge had 3,500 members and the decision was made to demolish their temple at 211 Delaware and rebuild a larger facility with more amenities and rooms with baths for members or visiting Elks. They asked the architect to model the building after the new Statler Hotel just opened two blocks away. They planned to spend $700,000. Member business was conducted at 910 Main Street at a former Moose lodge during construction.

interior
Overlooking the auditorium of the new Elks Temple, 207 Delaware. Image source: BECPL Scrapbook

The new building featured an indoor pool, handball courts, bowling alleys, an auditorium seating 1,900. Two massive bronze doors opened into the lobby of Italian marble. Additional rooms were set aside for banquets and a library. The final cost, including furnishings, was $2,000,000 ($27.3 million in 2015 dollars).

interior1
Lodge Hall of the new Elks Temple at 207 Delaware. The Beck murals have been reinstalled or reproduced above.
Image source: BECPL Scrapbook

Raphael Beck's paintings were once again on display, but only two were originals from the old lodge, "Flight of the Elk," and "Charity." The other images, "Justice," "Brotherly Love," and " Fidelity," were reproductions.

By 1933, the Depression forced the Elks to surrender the building to M & T bank, which held their $800,000 mortgage. The building operated as the Hotel Fillmore and, when the Elks were able to repurchase the building in 1942 for $125,000, they kept the hotel operating. Their membership was 1,600.

new_bldg
Postcard of the new building. Image source: Internet

By 1945, the Elks realized that their enormous structure was a white elephant and began looking for buyers. In 1954, it was sold for use as a hotel. The Elks moved to the Orin Foster home and, in 1957, purchased the Birge mansion from the Franciscan MIssionary Sisters of the Divine Child for $100,000.

For a time, the building served as the Hotel Mars. Then in 1967, it was sold to Niagara Frontier Services, Inc. which planned to use the building for offices. It was sold again to the Media Study Group; the AAO Gallery was located in the building and on its ceiling was Raphael Beck's "Flight of the Elk." Delaware Huron Development purchased it in 1986 from tax foreclosure and attempted to market it to the federal government.

2011

At the end of 1997, the property was demolished and is now a parking lot. All of the Beck murals appear to have been destroyed. The Buffalo B.P.O.E., Lodge 23, lost its charter in 1995, but the Elks are alive and well in the suburbs surrounding Buffalo.

Additional photos of the Buffalo Elks and their buildings here.

Copyright © 2016 Susan J. Eck. All Rights Reserved.