The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-11-06
FIRST LODGE
 FORMED HERE
 DEC. B, 1885

Bridgeport had no lodge of E1ks until December 13. 1885. E1kdom was young, but it's spirits and it's ideals had pervaded the city. A coterie of prominent men in the decided that Bridgeport should not be city with H. H. Jennings and it was backward in the benevolent and pro- tive duties that elsewhere were to be found.
 In consequence of the meetings here a chareter was obtained from the Grand Lodge and on the date mentioned Bridgedport lodge, No. 36, B. P. O. E. was founded.
 The first clubrooms were small, located in what was known as the Barnum-Staples building State street, near the intersection of Court street.
 Those who signed the charter were Al Fostell, now living at Atltantic City. N. J., Jerome May of Bridgeport, William H. Ryburn, deceased, F. K. F'reyler, P. F. R. deceased, c. A. Me Cool of Bridgeport, Harry Levy now | living in New Haven, H. H. Jennings, P. E. R. of Bridgeport, Pierre Heyer, deceased, c. H. Hinman of Bridge port secretary for the past 22 years, | c. H. Morris, living in Bridgeport Byron Eddy, living in Bridgeport and Louis Brock, P. E. R. of Bridgeport. {! Col. William Stevenson, familiarly | known as Colonel Billy was elected
 first Exalted Ruler of the lodge. A l talented musician, his associates re- 1 member to this day the many pleasant | evenings spent in his company in the | club rooms.
 i Although no effort was made to ex- pand the lodge during the early days | nevertheless it grew considerably un-
 til the original quarters were found | to be insufficient for the needs of I those days.
 About 1905 the growth of the or ganization in Bridgeport was noted. ! Many members had hppn taken in and
 extreme activity was appreciab1e. e It has grown since with leaps and | bounds. | Early in 1906 the requirements -were such as to need new building.
 Under the rule of Joseph c. Ivers. then Exalted Ruler, assisted by Dan
 Alfred A. Doty, William V. Dewitt, iel Rowland. Thomas c. Cunningham, Peter Doolan, Sidney B. Hawley, Jo- seph O'Brien and Timothy J. Murphy the present handsome edifice on State street near Lafayette was erected and opened in 1909.
 When completed it was one of the finest club structures in the city and
 ranked among the Elks' clubs of the
 country. Its magnificent pool and
 billiard rooms, lodge quarters and so-
 cia1 hall were the admirations of all
 Elks who visitsed the clubhouse.
 The recent desire of many of the
 best citizens of the city to affiliate
 with Lodge No. 36 has made this
 magnificent building seem small The quarters have become inadequate. So
 much so has this become that during
 perative to build at once.
 The new building already is well the past year it has been found inn under way and it is for the purpose of collecting funds that the present fro1ic with many other entertainments of a smaller naturerwil1 be run during the present and the coming year un- der the auspices of the ElkS club. l The new building will contain addi- l tions to all the present existing de-
 partments of the clubhouse including
 the dining-room, billiard room, social
 hall.
 Of special interest will be the new
 hotel addition that will bring B. P. O. , E. 36 prominently to the front among , England. This will care for long, felt want to visiting Elks.
 Also there will be a ladies' restau- ! rant on the first floor of the building catering to the wives and friends o1
 EIks. This feature long has beer
 sought and will add another attrac,
 ton to the general scope of the Elks field in Bridgeport.
 t present Exalted Ruler Lawrence T ) Gallagher, a practical builder, have been approved by the lodge ana the
 following iommittee has been appoint
 ed to assist him in the work: William r P. Kirk Samuel P1otk1n, James Fltz f patrick, Jos. c. Ivers, Harry P. Quinn e and John H. Greenwood. [ Following the parade tonight, ths ! grand opening of the F'rolics will bt l held in the Park theatre on Monda! [ night, continuing on Tuesday ana T Wednesday of next week. A cast O. . sixty of the best known comedians , | singers and fun-markerS in Bridge f pore are to take part. Several car = loads of scenery have been brough e from New York and the rights to offel . some of the latest song hits in Broad = way shows have been secured. t The Frolic will serve a double pur
 pose, in amusing thousands of Elk
 | and their friends and in furth erins
 l the building project now under way . Do not fail to make reservations a . | once.