The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1923-01-19
HATS OFF TO
wENA1cHEE ELKs
A Secret Benevolent Organization that
Has Invested Heavily Toward
Making a City Beautiful.

ever it is we note further evidence or
that hustling berg developing into a
city of parts and progress, and the
past year has marked a greater
change for the better than any single
year since Wenatchee sprang into
being out of a sage brush waste; and
the very noticeable growth of 1922 Is
to be followed in 1923 and in the years
to follow 1928, for the natural loca-
tion of Wenatchee, with large con-
tributary country that cannot be di-
verted from that center, insures and
justifies expansion until that place
becomes one of the important muni-
cipalities of the state.
1t is not the intention to work over
old chaff by dwelling upon what has
been accomplished in the way OF
building at Wenatchee during the past
four years, as we have covered that
ground at various times in the past,
but recently we had occasion while
on our way to the coast to spend few
hours in Wenatchee and that provided
an opportunity. to inspect one or the
most attractive and conspicuous new
buildings in that city only completed
and occupied within the past few
weeks. and it is such an important
addition to that city that we feel JUS
titled in giving the structure more
than passing notice. Reference Is
made to the new Elk's Temple,
building that in it's exterior and In
terror finish and it's strikingly hand
some furnishings would be a credit
to Seattle. Spokane or any other city
of equal magnitude.
As a rule, lodges of Elks are only
organized in large communities ana
drawing membership from tle sur
rounding country as well as from the
population of the city In which estab-
lished the lodge grows apace and
/ flourishes. 1t is an organization tEas
seems to appeal to the individual and
wherever a Temple is located the
lodge apparently enjoys larger men,
bership than any other secret society
in the same place. The Wenatchee
lodge is no exception to the rule. Its
roster contains the names OF scores
of residents Of the country In direct
touch with Wenatchee, among them
MANY residents Of Okanogan county.
Wherever a lodge exists 1t seems TO
be the chief aim to secure building
of its own at the earliest possible
date, and usually the Temples erected
by the Elks are of a superior char
acter in point of architecture. The
Wenatchee Elks have done themselves
proud by beautifying their city with
the handsomest structure in the place
and in building they have built for the
e future as we'll as the present as 1t Is
l ample in proportion to accommodate
) a vastly increased membership. The
exterior appearance Of the Temple
$ strikes the favorable attention OF the
stranger at once, and arouses an ad-
q miration for the organization tina,
could provide the means to erect such
: a beautiful and substantial structure
y in so comparatively small place, FOL
as stated elsewhere this Temple woult
~ prove credit to city many, yer,
: many times the size Of Wenatchee
g and is a monument to the zeal, the
" enterprise, the liberality and the 10y
atty of it's membership.
If one is pleased by careful sur
:, vey of the captivating lines Of thi
- pile of brick and mortar on the out
side that pleasure is vastly enhances
by the inspection of the interior
Through the courtesy of that prime
~ of good fellows and master sraftsmal
e in the art of entertaining. Mr.. j. I
~ Ferguson, we were given an oppOr
3 tunity to inspect the interior of tn
n Temple. and while we are not unfa
$ familiar with lodge rooms and lodg
81 buildings we have never had tn
sd pleasure of seeing anything In tn
N way of convenience, comfort and uti
IS ity for the purpose for which the IN
T. terror was designed that woul
lie surpass in elegance and perfect al
. pie. The assembly room, the banqu'
a room for social entertainment, til
apartment especially fitted for tf
he ladies'. the private bedrooms luxu
or ously furnished were all in keepin
ce exuding an atmosphere of taste an
he'll comfort The lodge room proper gay
he ius pause and we experienced fee
he ing of awe as we stood in that ha =
D. some sanctuary. the dim light adam
Ilv to the favorable impression created
nd the solid and symmetricaftprnish
nd and fixtures, elegant in their>@yei
nd plain solidity. Too often the effect
nd upon the eye of lodge room is som'
ar how repulsive from the garislnes
H. and spectacularity of the decoration
20 bnt such sensations are absent whe
r. one views the interior of the lodg
n room of this Temple, for the room
of the picture OF simplicity suggestin
we coziness. comfort and comradeshi
n One has the impression OF vastnes
be while standing in the immense hig
~ ceiled room. subduly lighted, soft
he carpeted, furnished with massiy
ON leather upholstered chairs an
W. couches. dark woodwork with the e,
istance of a solemn hush that SCENE