Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-04-30
Great ERs Home
Nears Completion
1t viii Be Dedicated on July 8
Just Before Grand Lodge
Meets in Baltimore.
Especial to The Times dispatch. ]

Especial To The Times Dispatch
BEDFORD. VA. April 2e.--Work is
progressing satisfactorily on the in
terror of tho magnificent new Elks'
National Home, and the architects and
contractors promise that it Will be
ready for the dedication exercises and
for the occupancy OF the buildings Oh
July s.
These ceremonies will be very i'm
posing. and doubtless viii be attended
by representatives Of lodges from all
the States OF the Union. The dedica :
ton Will be the prelude OF the grand
lodge meeting in baltimore this
year for II Is planned to hold the dedi-
cation cxcrciscs here ON Saturday, July
z. and from this place the delegates
Will proceed TO Baltimore, 233 miles
distant, for the grand lodge, which
holds its convention from July II Ia II.
The railroads arc preparing 10 run
special excursions from a number OF
points for the accoum odation Of the
thousands of Eiks expected 10 hc pres
cnt.
Perhaps there il no rratcrnal order
that has made such complete and luyu-
rious ARRANGEMENTS for those brethren
who are uuahl. to Drovid" for their
own needs. as arc combiucd in THIS
Eiks' National Homo. aud Bedford is
proud Ia have been selected as The
location. For beauty of exquisite
mountain scenery. hcalthfulncss, pure
water. the source Of which is az the
base Of The Peaks of Otter, ten miles
distant. and which is conveyed by
gravity TO the town Of Bedford in limit =
less abundance, more admirable site
could not have been found
Tic home consists of handsome
Il toll -t,-lr IA "
rests upon tho summit Of tho clcva-
ton upon which tho buildings arc
placed. and OH each side of III" CEN
trai or administration building are ar
ranged the six large dormitorics.
On the first floor Of the administers
iion building are the lobby. the ladies'
arlOr. private dining room. main Of
flee, private office. barber shop. library.
spacious sun pari"r. billiard-rorn and
rarhruun,. ON tho second floor are tho
ant.roun, lodccrcom and meeting
room. six guest rooms and elegant
quarters for the superintendent. con-
sisting Of hall. two bedrooms. par
tor aud porvhcS on back and front.
In tho basement Of the main building
ar" twenty servants rooms. storeroom,
workshop and refrigeration plant.
In the hospital building are twenty
i four rooms aud a large ward. together
with sun parlor and the chapel. ON
tho first floor OF this building i tho
main dining hall and the smaller lunch
room, sun parlor and Kitchen In tho
Same buildings. arranged for utmost
convenience. arc the laundry linen
room. sowing room. toilcr-room. cold
storage and rctriEcra ton plant. pantry.
servants dlninrrooni and acrvanta'
kitchen.
Tho main dining hall is. perhaps the
most elegant Of all the rooms, and is
handsomely finished with tapestry
brick and concrete.
There are six large cottages for
dornitorics with Twenty-Five rooms
each. with all modern equipment of
water, electric lights. etc. These are
arranged three on each side Of the
main building, with covered corridors
running the entire length. us we'll as
por"hcS extending on tho exterior.
TIL" structures, within and without.
arc built of concrete. as well as tho
floors. and II has been made as abso-