Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-05
NATIONAL HOME FOR ELKS
Brotherhood Will Dedicate It's sanatOrium
During Latter Part of May.
GRAND EXALTED RULER CRoNK TO oATTEND
Beautiful Modern building at Red
ford City, Va, to he Devoted TO
the Uses of the Order
Hereafter.

Grand Exalted Ruler George p. CrOuk Of
the Benevolent Protective order of Elks
is making arrangements to attend the dedi-
cation Of the new building recently ac-
quired by the Benevolent and Protective
order Of Elks as a national home for the
| brotherhood at Bedford CITY, Va. The de-
dication ceremonies will take place May
21st and the event promises to be OF more
than usual interest to citizens OF every
state in the Union.
Plans have been perfected for the ac-
commodation of 5000 Elks from Virginia
and other states and excursions will be run
into Bedford City from all parts of the
country. The exercises will be held in the
| open air.
The following partial program has been
arranged for the AFFAIR and other details
may be added to It later but still this may
be regarded as practically the complete
program:
| Invocation-Rev. Dallas Tucker.
Transfer of the building to the order by
Joseph T. Tanning, chairman Of the Board
| of Grand Trustees.
Acceptance Of the building by Grand Ex-
alted Ruler George +; Ir Cronk Of Omaha Omaha;
Address-Hon. John W. McDaniels OF
orationeHon. Meade d. Detwiler. past
| grand exalted ruler.
Benedictlon-Rev. Father Boland OF Bal
| umorei Mu.
Affair of National Importance.
The affair will be national event and
Invitations will be sent out to every lodge
| In the order.
II is not known just at this time how
| many members Of the order from Nebraska
will attend, but from the present indica-
tions the state will be very generously
represented at the dedication.
Besides the highest officers in the order
| there will be present several United States
senators, congressman, governors of sew
eral states and other prominent public men.
! When the Elks' home is dedicated there
will be thrown open to the Elks OF the
United States one OF the finest resting
places in the whole country. This nagnih-
cent retreat has been established not only
| for the disabled members OF the order, or
anyone else who desires rest or recreation,
but the eleemosynary brothers will be re-
ceived with open arms and find here
haven with luxury and entire freedom from
every care during their declining days.
The initial movement for the institution
Of a national home for INDECENT and aged
Elks was made about three years ago.
and June 16 last the Hotel Bedford prop.
erty at Bedford City, Va, was purchased
by the joint committee at a public sale for
S12,O5O, a mere bagatelle when the original
cost OF the property is considered.
Bedford City is on the main line Of the
Norfolk & Western railway, almost midway
between the cities of Roanoke and Lynch
burg, and is easily accessible by other
trunk lines from all sections Of the country.
wh&t the Home IL.
The home is situated on an eminencs
three-quarters Of a mile north OF the town,
which is a prosperous ana cultured COM
munity Of about 5000 population. The pas
senger station is but quarter Of a mile
from the home, and is a handsome struc-
ture, costing $4,000. Near the home is
the Randolph Macon academy. that is
patronized by families Of refinement and
afiuence.
The building. which was used as a sum-
mer hotel for ten years before falling into
the hands Of the Elks, was erected in 1891.
and is constructed of Nelson county (Vir-
glnia) purple granite, brick and shingles.
The building cost $4,000. while the entire
furnishings OF every room, which were ac-
quired by the Elks, cost $4,000 more. The
plot OF ground on which the home stands
contains eight acres, the whole being sur
rounded by an ornate iron fence of artistic
design, which cost $1,000. large grove
Of noble oaks in the rear of the building
will prove to be a place for many restful
hour for any Elk whose lot makes him an
inmate of the institution.
The building is three stories high and has
a frontage Of something over 200 feet and
will comfortably accommodate 200 people.
and is, as a whole considered one OF the
most beautiful properties in the Old Do
minion, representing, as 1t does, in It's
exterior the best type Of modern archi-
lecture, and its interior possesses every
L.. al. II
An elaborately arehed, eemented floor We
randa extends around the main portion Of
the building and east wing
The Elks have expended $4,000 in
making additions repairs and remodeling
. the structure. Its sanitation and plumbing
is complete and has been rewired for COM
bination gas and electric fixtures. Ar
, rangements for fire protection are COM
plete, with a full equipment OF hose carts
and q sufhcient supply OF the best Of fire
hose.
, RsauIffuIIy Surrounded.
, The view from every room in the building
'is most attractive. giving widespread
vista OF sunlit valleys and pale blue tow
! ering mountains and a general landscape
Of enhancing beauty.
Five miles to the north are the towering
. Peaks OF otter. rising 1000 feet above the
level Of the sea and $500 feet above the
home From the base Of these peaks an
: ample supply OF mountain spring water OF
: perfect purity and almost icy coldness is
piped by gravity to the home.
= The mean temperature at Bedford City is
: IS degrees in the summer and "A degrees
. in the winter. There are no rigors OF
D climatic extremes and sudden changes, such
I as would bear heavily upon an inmate com
, ing from either very high or very low
e temperature.
{ The annual maintenance fund for the
homo will be approximately $4,000 This
q is the most Elk-like project the order has
e ever attempted and viii rebound to its
: glory The institution will draw its In :
, mates from the Olympia mountains OF
4 Washington state to the Everglades OF
D Florida. and from the placid waters OF
, the Penobscot In Maine to the majestic
{ Rio Grande.
c Contest Goes 20 Supreme Court.
CHICAGO. April L-At a conferences
today between attorneys for William Lori
4 mer on one hand aEd the election COM