A group of enterprising businessmen in Prescott, sturdy products of the early west, charted the original petition for a dispensation to establish the Prescott Lodge. They were Jake Marks, Ben M. Belcher, Harry W. Walters, James Griffin, Mach McCulloch, S.A.Prince, Albert Brow, TB. Davis, J.A. Rokohl, Z.H. Bagby, J.D. Moore, OT. Abbott, Frank Frantz, Frank A. Cole, EN Kastner, B.H. Smith, M.J. Hickey, D.J. Sullivan, W.W. Ross, NA. Pace. Frank H. Williams, Robert Brow, NJ. Herndon< Frank S. Emmal, J.W.Wilson. Alex Cordiner. William Ashton and T.E. Litt. These are the men who launched Lodge No. 330 on its successful career and, under the trials and discouragements which beset it in its early career, remained steadfast to the great principles of the order in the belief that someday their lodge and home would be a credit to the community


    What manner of men were these who. living in a wild and woolly” western town in the country that was still government territory, decided to band together and affiliate the world? Due to the remarkable memory and courtesy of many old time Prescott residents, its possible to give “thumb nail descriptions”of many of these pioneers:

    Frank H. Williams was a city assessor and tax collector when that office was operated separately from the county.

    J.W. Wilson built the Wilson Block in Prescott which is still standing. Mr. Wilson was a clothier.

    A.J. Herndon was clerk of the court in territorial days. and an insurance agent.

    E.A. Kastner was owner of Kastner’s grocery.

    M.J. Hickey, in partnership with Dennis Burke. ran the Burke Hotel which is now the St. Michael.

    D.J. Sullivan was county assessor and had mining interests.

    W. W. Rossowner of the Ross Drug Co.

    S.A. Prince was Chief of Police for many years.

    Dr. T.B. Davis was a veteran of the Civil War and a charming and gallant gentleman of the “old School.’

    J.A. Rokohl was a former actor whose stage name was Gus Williams. He operated a hotel in Prescott for many years.

    Z.H. Bagby was a local merchant.

    Jake Marks . First Exalted Ruler. operated a wholesale liquor company.

    Ben Belcher, Barney Smith. and Robert Brow were proprietors of the Palace Hotel and Saloon.

    Frank Williams (known as Sure-Shot Williams). How he received this moniker and whether it referred to a horse named Sure-Shot, or to the gun toting ability of Mr. Williams remains a moot question.

    John J. Jones was a mining man in the McCabe area.

    A.A. Pace operated the Prescott Steam Laundry.

    It is to be regretted that information of the rentaining charter members was not to be obtained however there is no doubt that they were also rugged individualist and staunch citizens of Prescott.

    It may be well to note that the late Lester Ruffner, Sr. P.E.R., P.D.D., was the first candidate initiated in B.P.O. Elks No. 330. He was the father of Budge Ruffner also a P.E.R of the lodge.

—The Naughty Nineties when men were two-fisted drinkers and women had three dresses a year. The Spanish-American War—the remarkable World’s Fair in Chicago —a man in Pittsburgh put a moth on a carriage and tried to convince himself and neighbors that he didn’t need a horse. Folks back in Chicago were positive that nothing but war—like Indians inhabited the country west of the Mississippi and the citizens of New York considered Chicago a far western settlement . . .that as the picture when Lodge #330 was born in Prescott, a thriving lusty little city of the Territory. At this time, there were no other lodges in the state so the Prescott Lodge drew its membership from all of Yavapai County.

    J.E. Morrison was Exalted Ruler—The Elks lodged themselves in the Tilton Build-
ing—and Whiskey Row burned to the ground. In other parts of the country—two brothers named Wright built an ungainly contraption—took it to the tip of a hill—and actually flew it in the air. They were jeered at and called Godless—Obviously man wasn’t intended to fly or else he’d have been born with wings.. .San Francisco was the social and cultural city of the West and Pacific Street was called the most wicked street in the world.

    Train service was creeping further west—Prescott and all of the West was growing and very obviously having growing pains. The Elks of Lodge #330 were bravely weathering financial difficulties, and Whiskey Row, like the bird Phoenix, rose nobly from its own ashes. The membership of the lodge was increasing and the population of Prescott kept step.

    Jerome and Phoenix had both been instituted as B.P.O.E. Lodges by the Prescott Lodge. Prescott’s climate was luring the prominent people from all over the Territory into making this their summer home. Prescott was the most famous town in the Territory, and due to the faith and labor of its citizens, including the Elks, it soon grew from a gangling village to a compact and business-like little city.


    S.L. Pattee was Exalted Ruler when the cornerstone of the new lodge was laid in 1904. Money raised for the erection of the building through bond issues and the first floor was complete in 1904.

    1904 also saw the opening play at the Elks theatre--The beggar Prince. The architect for the theatre was Mr. Minor whose name should go down in history due to the remarkable acoustics of the theatre.

    Engineers from all over the west have visited the Elks Building Theatre in an attempt to explain and copy the construction of the building-- but it seems impossible to explain just why this theatre is so acoustically superlative.


    1918 — Arizona had been a member of these United States for six years. Europe was broiling in her own bad politics and World War I -- the War to End All Wars” took its toll of Prescott Elks.

    The Roaring Twenties -- prohibition — flappers --  bootleg gin — easy money -- a chicken in every pot and two cars in every garage — Prescott Elks prospered and added two more floors to their building. The first floor now contained the theater and offices -- the second floor the Federal Court Roooms and the third floor -- the Elks Club and Lodge Rooms.

    In 1921, Past Exalted Ruler John Sweeney burned the mortgage for the building on the stage of the Elks Theater. Mr. Jacoby declared that it was largely due to the efforts of Past Exalted Ruler E. H. Meeks that the building was made to prosper and become free and clear at such an early date. The Elks Lodge. in 1917, was declared to be worth $65,000 with an annual income of $12,000

    Excerpts from the program of the opening performance of the Elks Theatre review the progress and ideals of the club to 1905 better than any words of the present day.

    Under a column titled “The Elks Building” is the following account:

    Ever since the institution of Prescott Lodge No. 330, January 23, 1896, every energy has been exerted toward the realization of the cherished hope that one day it would own a home from which it could dispense its hospitality to its members and friends. The culmination of its hopes has been reached in the completion of the Elks Theatre, and it feels what is hoped may be taken as pardonable pride in the result of the persistent efforts which have been exerted.

    The first tangible step in securing this magnificent structure in which the entire community may feel pride, was taken on February 22, 1899, when the Exalted Ruler, Bro. T.B. Davis, appointed a committee held a number of meetings, and, as a result submitted outline drawings prepared by J.R. Minor. The plans contemplated a building of two stories and theatre practically upon the lines of the present structure.

    In order to have legal stature, on March 8, 1899, a committee consisting of Bros. J. Frank Wilson, J.E. Morrison and H.B. Ross was appointed for the purpose of preparing articles of incorporation and, on March 24th following, the committee made its report;

    On May 2, 1900, Bros. B.M. Belcher, J.A. Jaeger and C.J. Hicks were appointed a committee to purchase 50 feet of the present site, and on December 5th, it was further instructed to purchase the additional 50 feet.

    While the efforts of the lodge were in no way abated, still it was not until October 30th 1901, that the articles of incorporation of the Elks Building Association were adopted. They were prepared by Bros. S.L. Pattee and J.E. Morrison, who were appointed for this purpose. It is under this organization that the property of the lodge is now held.
   
    Active steps were taken early in 1904 and J.R. Minor was chosen as the architect. The ground was broken for the building early in January and, on May 1, 1904, the cornerstone was laid by the Lodge assisted most kindly by the members of Phoenix Lodge No. 335.

    While the original intention of the Lodge was the securing of a meeting place, at the request of a number of citizens of Prescott, the theatre feature was added.

    As an inducement toward securing this needed addition to our city, a large number of the citizens aided us by purchasing stock in the association. The kindness of those so doing is greatly appreciated as we trust the result to them justifies their faith in Prescott Lodge #330.

    The cost of the building is Sixty-five Thousand dollars.

    There, stripped of the worries, the arguments, the search for capital, the many things that beset the builder, and particularly the lodge builder, is a short record of the early days of the Elks building. Nothing there is said about the refinancing of the building which came later, but the position of the lodge today and the Elks dominant architectural feature of the city, bear mute testimony to the ability of the lodge and its members to meet and solve all problems.

    For several years there has been intermittently agitated the project of establishing an Elks Club, and the agitation has finally borne fruit, for between the first and fifth of April, quarters will be opened on the lower floor of the Elks Building with Chas. N Snover as steward and manager. Two rooms will be utilized for this purpose. The quarters formerly occupied by J.S. Acker will be devoted to a reading and writing room, buffet and a kitchen in the rear. The adjoining room will be given over to billiard and pool tables. Both rooms are now being furnished and will be made as cozy and comfortable as the finances will permit. The club rooms will be open daily from 12:00 until midnight and a lunch for members will be served at noon from 12 to 2. Special dinners will be served to parties in the evening by notifying the steward before 12 o’clock of that day, and one private dining roomhas been provided to accommodate a party of not to exceed six.

    The privileges of the club will be open to all local and visiting Elks but there will be no payment for any service with money. Members can purchase coupon books in denominations of $1, $2 and $5 and these coupons will be used in paying the bills incurred. The Elks Club has been fortunate in being able to secure the services of Mr. Snover as manager. He is a man not only of affable and pleasing manners but of wide experience in the catering business. His first experience was with the Hotel Pontchartrain. the largest hotel of Detroit, and he was next with ith the fashionable Hotel Metropole of the same city, from both of which hostelries he carries the highest recommendations as to his ability. He was then a partner in the Columbia Hotel at Pontiac, Michigan and after disposing of his interest there. became the assistant of Charles Brant, Steward of the Detroit Club. and who is now engaged in the same capacity at El Tovar Hotel at the Grand Canyon.

    With such a man so well qualified to manage its affairs, the Elks Club is assured of success and the result will be to infuse new life and energy into the lodge of Elks. Mr. Snover plans to provide an entertainment at least once a month in order to build up the Prescott Lodge of Elks. as he is one of the most ardent and loyal members of this great fraternal order.

    Mr. Snover adds that much of the first funtiture was donated by members of the lodge but that the club has been a real success since its early and modest beginnings.

    This story was taken from the excerpts of Robert Birch on the 50th Anniversary.
   
   The Elk, given to the lodge by the United Verde Copper Co. as a gifl from United States Senator WA. Clark, was formally presented by Thomas Taylor, smelter superintendent. Many members of the Jerome Elks, according to Mr. Birch. participated in the ceremony and a particularly rousing time was had by all.
   
    Birch remembers the street parade held during the day of the presentation, when many Elks rode burros, and many of the burros suffered under artificial Elks heads as well as carrying human Elks. The evening of the presentation, a great banquet was held in the then unfinished third floor of the building, a banquet which Birch provided. Asked what they had. he said: "everything from soup to nuts. and the boys were really happy.”

    The Elk of solid copper from the UV mines had been raised to the top of the building by block and tackle and there both bolted and cenented in for secureness.

    The back altar of Prescott Lodge was made in either 1905 or 1906 and as we know it as only one of its kind. It symbolizes the four principles of Elkdom: Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love and Fidelity. Is is made of crystal glass inlaid in lead. If you think the pictures are pretty from the outside, you should see the paintings from the inside.


    The late Ed Lockyear, was official historian for B.P.O.E. NO. 330 prior to the 50th anniversarv in 1946. 1 am sure that it was due to his efforts that we had a fine publication at that time. And it is these items of interest that make up most of our history today.