Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-09-24

General committee: H. B. Holland,
chairman; A. L. Holmes, secretary: w.
A. Hager, treasurer; w. H. Dignam,
J. Howard WEIGH, o. A. Meader, James
II. Stevens, Arthur Daviau, c. II.
Barton, Martin Blaisdell, H. NJ Har
mon, F. j. Arnold.
Reception committee, w. II. Dignam,
chairman; w. I. Haines, L. q. Sails
bury, DR.. ]. F. Hill, j. Howard WEIGH,
Charles NJ. Richardson, o. A. Meader,
C. B. Kelleher F. L. Laehance and
James II. Stevens.
Dedication and entertainment COM
mittee, Ora A. Meader, chairman;
James H. Stevens, A. L. Holmes and
j. Howard WEIGH.
Banquet committee, w. A. Hager,,
chairman; w. H. Dignam, H. NJ. Har-
mon, Martin Blaisdell and Fred j. Ar
mold
Invitation and printing committee,
J. Howard WEIGH, chairman; Arthur
Daviau, James H. Stevens and c. II.
Barton.
History of the Lodge
In the eleven years that the Water
vile ldHge of the Benevolent Protec-
! tive Order of Elks has been in exist
ence, it's growth has been rapid and
| remarkable. There is no fraternal or
ganization in the city that has grown
and expanded with the same degree OF
rapidity and solidness as the Elks. 1t
has outgrown one home, and bought
and built another, one Of the finest
clubhouses in the State. Men who
have been members of the local lodge
since its organization could not help
from realizing a feeling of pride Tues
day evening, when the splendid big
building was visited by over 500 men
and women, who represented the best
of waterville society.
The charter was granted to the
lodge, which is known as COS, July 81,
1918. The officers were installed
March %, 1904 in Modern Woodmen's
hall in the Milll1en block With Hon.
William T. Haines, the present gov
ernor of Maine as the first exalted
ruler On Feb. s, 1905. the first meet
ing was held in the Davis block on
Silver street, now known as Elk's
block. The history of the lodge for
the next eight years is one of con-
tinual growth, and ever increasing
membership, with the following ex-
allied rulers serving, each one year;
]. f. Hill, 1905; Lowell j. Salisbury,
1906; ]. Howard WEIGH, 1907; Charles
NJ. Richardson, 1908; Ora y. Meader,
1909; II. b. Holland, 1910; Hon. c. B.
Kelleher, 1911; F. j. LaChance, 1872;
James II. Stevens, 1913; and William
II. Dignam, as the present exalted
ruler
It was under the regime of Mr.. Ste
vens as exalted ruler that the lodge
decided that it had outgrown its old
home, and wanted something newer,
larger and better, and consequently
at a meeting held Feb. 13, 1913,
committee consisting of H. B. Holland,
chairman, w. A. Hager, C. A. Little,
Ora A Meader and Charles II. Bar
ton was appointed to select a site for
new home. In less than a month,
March 6, the committee was authoriz-
ed to purchase the Nelson property
on Appleton street. With the site def
nitely decided upon, the next matter
was the building, and May % saw the
same committee appointed to secure
plans for a new clubhouse. a build
ing committee was appointed for this
purpose, and it consisted of H. b.
Holland, chairman, James II. Stevens,
w. II. Dignam, w. A. Hager, o. A.
Meader, Arthur Daviau, Martin Blais-
dell, F. j. Arnold ]. Howard WEIGH,
A. l.. Holmes, N NJ. Harmon, Charles
H. Barton. This committee was au-
thorized to accept the plans submitted
by Miller and Mayo of Bangor. On
Sept. s. 1913 the contract was award
ed to Z. c. Hodgins and Sons of Ban
gor for s2O.S32. With appropriate
and fitting ceremonies. the corner
stone was laid Wednesday, Nov. II,
1918. On July 20, 1914, the new home
was first occupied, and the August
meeting was the first held in the new
| hall. The EIks' Home Association was
organized Oct. IS, 1913.