Valley Girl Views: The Elks Home, Milton Pa

Milton Elks BPOE Lodge No 913 was established on May 20 1904.

For the first year, the lodge occupied a building later occupied by Dr. Charles S. Tomilson. In 1905, the Elks moved to the Brown Building on Broadway.

They opened their new home, located on Broadway and Broad Avenue, in April of 1905

In February of 1912 the Elks made "much needed improvements to the second floor of their clubhouse on Broadway." The partitions were removed from the front hall, making room to install a second pool table.

In 1916, the group purchased the former Huntzinger property on Front Street. They would do extensive remodeling over the next three years, before briefly moving in.

In 1918, The Elks offered their home to be used as a hospital during the Influenza epidemic.

It was quickly evident that the building was not large enough. The Elks sold the property to Joseph Katz, and made arrangements to purchase the former Chamberlin building on North Front Street.

The Elks purchased the Chamberlin property on North Front Street in October of 1919. "Prior to the closing of this deal, the Elks disposed of the property recently purchased on South Front Street"

In 1921, the Elks Moved to their new home, the former Chamberlin home, at 21 North Front Street.

"On entering the spacious lobby with its tile floor, the first thing to greet the eye is the beautiful onyx columns, which is at the entrance of the main hallway on the first floor.

A ladies reception room, finished in ivory with ivory wicker furniture, was located to the left of the entrance. A grill was located on the first floor, "equipped and in communication with the second floor dining room by a dumb waiter". Also on the first floor was a secretary's room, and a game room. The game room had two large pool tables and a new billiard table, along with card tables and lounging chairs.

The basement was divided into two sections, with the heating systems in the back, and two new Brunswick-Balke-Collender Co bowling alleys. Immediately in back of the alley was space set aside for bleachers to be added for spectators, as a later date.

The basement was also equipped with lavatories and showers, with plans to install lockers, and shooting galleries.

The second floor was the main auditorium, with seating capacity for 260. Another game room, ladies waiting room, and two serving rooms were also on the second floor.

The stewards apartments, five rooms and a bath, were located on teh thrift foot, where there was also "11 comfortable sleeping rooms" (9 single, and two double).