The daily sentinel., 1901-12-28
ELKS TEMPLE.
Purchase of Park Opera House
Under Consideration.

Under Consideration.
Among the propositions which will be
considered by the special committee ap-
pointed to investigate sites offered for
the building Of an Elks' homo and lodge
rooms. will be that Of the purchase Of
the Park opera house.
Plane are now being prepared by Arch
itect jesse B. Boyer. outlining the me-
cessary changes which could be made in
the building to make same suitable for
the purposes for which the Elks desire
to build.
The principal idea in the plans will be
to maintain the opera house intact, as at
present, with many changes making it
more habitable and desirable as place
OF Amusement. The plans will also in
clude large lodge room, club rooms and
splendid dancing hall with a much
larger floor space than any hall compre-
bends in the city at the present time.
The changes contemplated, il the Or
der shall take the matter under consider
alton Of purchase, are about as follows:
Where the gallery now is will be torn
away. Where the gallery begins. it will,
according to the plans. end Tho front
will come forward to another pier in the
opera house over the parquet and the
gallery will be curved in the shape Of a
horseshoe, 80 that either end will meet
at the front Of the stage. Beside the
stage in front will be arranged several
boxes in tiers. This will accomodate
about as many people as can now be &C.
comodated in the present gallery.
Where the gallery. was, and extending
out over the lobby, will be where the
lodge room will be located. II 10 assert
ed that lodge room 4Ox4O can be se
cured from the space formerly occupied
by the gallery. giving 1000 feet Of floor
space to the lodge room. Tho height Of
the ceiling in this room would be about
% feet, making it one Of the handsomest
lodge rooms in the state, whom complet-
ed according to the plans.
For ante rooms and club rooms, the
rooms now used as living rooms in the
second story on the west side would then
oe used. .f4ts
To accommodate and afford quarters for
other lodges, which might desire to rent
the lodge room, An outside stairway on
the west side would be provided, and the
small L which now exists will have an
other story added, 80 that the rooms Of
the Elks will be entirely private, and .
means Of ingress and egress afforded
other lodges entirely their own.
There would also be placed in the
building an adequate heating apparatus,
either OF steam or hot water, which
would heat the entire building.
According to the plans. the improve
ments contemplated for the>opera house
would make OF it one Of the handsomsst
little play houses in the state. Beside
this there would be q dancing floor
which would. take in all the floor space
down stairs.
The owners OF the building are having
the plans prepared and great many Of
the Elks favor the plan proposed. The
location Of the building is admirable Tor
purposes desired. 1t faces q handsome
park, or what will be handsome plat Of
ground some day when proper care is
taken Of same. 1t is off OF Main street
and near the center of the town, and Of
easy access from all parts OF the city.
What appeals to the membership OF
the lodge and tho committee is that the
building when completed, as contsm-
plated by the plans, will produce quite
revenue from the beginning. at least suf-
ficient to pay the nxed charges on the
building.
The matter has not bsen presented to
tho lodge and nothing definite is known
Of the action which may be taken. The
plan Ia 20 feasible. however, that it ap-
pesls strongly to many OF tho conserva
tive members Of tho order, who will. de-
string q handsome and commodious
lodge room, at tho same time desire
something from which a revenue may be
derived