The Sacramento Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge No. 6 is undoubtedly an organization that is woven into the fabric of the Pocket community. But those who are unfamiliar with this local organization prior to its existence just south of Land Park in the Pocket are unaware that the local Elks have a much richer history.

Although Sacramento Elks Lodge No. 6 established a noteworthy history at its current home at 6446 Riverside Blvd., downtown Sacramento was home to the lodge for the majority of its existence.

The lodge, which is now one of more than 2,000 lodges that make up one of the largest and most active fraternal organizations in the world, is undeniably one of the capital city’s oldest organizations.

 

Lodging in Sacramento

Founded in the capital city in 1877, the lodge initially met in downtown Sacramento and operated for about two years before the charter was rescinded for what the lodge refers to as “what can be inferred to as prostitution.”

The lodge was re-chartered as Sacramento Elks Lodge No. 328 on Dec. 21, 1895 with a variety of members, including some of the community’s most prominent individuals.

The official establishment of the re-chartered lodge was celebrated in the dining room of the prominent Golden Eagle Hotel at 627 K St.

Members of the local Elks lodge, which regained its original charter number in 1908, met in various places during the lodge’s early years, including the site of its first gathering as Lodge No. 328 at Foresters’ Hall at 716 I St. and at the Ruhstaller building, which still stands at 902 J St., across from Cesar Chavez Plaza.

The first officers of the re-chartered lodge were installed in April 1896 and included: J.N. Larkin, exalted ruler, Charles N. Post, esteemed leading knight, J.A. Nelson, esteemed loyal knight, and G.B.N. Clow, esteemed lecturing knight.

In their everyday lives, Larkin worked as a police court clerk and owned the Sunday Leader newspaper at 305 J St., Post was the city’s justice of peace and an attorney at law at 614 I St., Nelson was a laundryman at American Laundry at 19th and I streets and Clow was a physician at 531 K St.

At the time of the installation of new officers in April 1897, membership of the lodge had reached 137.

It was also in this year that the lodge made its first known visit to San Francisco Lodge No. 3, which entertained its Sacramento visitors.

The earliest known fraternal visit by an Elks lodge to Sacramento occurred on Oct. 17, 1898 when Stockton Lodge No. 218 was welcomed to the capital city by the Sacramento lodge.

Among the popular events of the Sacramento lodge during its earliest years was its minstrel shows, including its “Monster Minstrel Jubilee,” which was held on May 2, 1898 at the Metropolitan Theater on K Street, between 4th and 5th streets.

 

Elks find a home

After more than a decade of meeting at various sites, the Sacramento Elks opened their first “permanent” building at 824 J St. on July 3, 1906. The new temple’s opening was celebrated with a public gathering, which was attended by many prominent people of the city.

The 1923 book, History of Sacramento County, included the following report: “The Elks have a strong lodge in Sacramento with an elegantly equipped home on J Street, between 8th and 9th (streets). Recently the hall was remodeled at a considerable expense. The lodge is in very prosperous condition.”

The report, however, was based on information that was outdated by about six years.

By 1922, due to the extreme growth of the local Elks membership and the inadequacies of the then-current building, an organization, called the Sacramento Elks Hall Association, was founded to construct a new Elks temple in Sacramento.

As a result of the association’s efforts, a new, 226-foot-tall, brick and steel Elks temple was constructed at the northeast corner of 11th and J streets and dedicated as the new home of Sacramento Elks Lodge No. 6 on June 22, 1926.

The 14-floor building, which was once recognized as the city’s tallest structure, was not only a home for the Elks, but it also included about 100 hotel rooms, storefront spaces on the ground floor and a restaurant on the 14th floor.

In 1968, the 13th floor of the building became home to the newly created radio station, KZAP, which debuted on the FM dial as a free form station playing extremely vast offerings of music.

Additionally, the building once offered such amenities as a swimming pool and a steam room in the basement, an exercise room on the ground floor, a ballroom and main dining room on the second floor, a lodge room and reading room on the third floor and meeting, billiards and game rooms on the fourth floor.

Although many locals are familiar with McCormick and Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant’s existence on the ground floor of the building, many longtime residents of the area remember that the building once featured an entirely different restaurant, which was known as the Top of the Town.

The business, thus named for its location on the building’s top floor, was known for its panoramic view of the city, its cocktail lounge and its overall attractive aesthetics and atmosphere.

Speaking about the grandness of the 11th and J Street Elks temple in 1926, Walter J. Hicks, exalted ruler of the Sacramento Elks Lodge, said, “I am not proud because we builded higher, not proud because we builded bigger, but proud because we have builded a temple to Elkdome in the city of Sacramento, which already is becoming the topic of conversation wherever Elks congregate and which before long will be instrumental in placing the name of Sacramento on the lips of nearly every Elk throughout the nation.”

 

Off to Riverside Boulevard

Due to a decrease in membership during the 1950s and 1960s, the local Elks lodge failed to produce funds for upgrades required by the city’s building department.

The Elks consequently sold the building in 1972 to local developer Buzz Oates, who soon afterward joined in a business partnership with Waltz Investment, Richard Benvenutti, William Cook and Dean Unger.

Following this group’s ownership, the building underwent a variety of ownerships, as it fell in and out of escrow.

This pattern continued until May 2003, when current owners Steve and Mike Ayers committed to having the building renovated through the guidance of Peter B. Dannenfelser II of Architectural Arts.

Having sold the 11th and J streets building, Sacramento Elks Lodge No. 6 began a new chapter in its history in the early 1970s, when it moved into its current home on Riverside Boulevard.

Although the Riverside Boulevard building does not have the grandiose exterior aesthetics of the 11th and J streets building, this Pocket area building, which encompasses about an acre of property, is nonetheless a high quality building with various amenities.

The main feature of the building is its combined rooms, which include the Riverside Room, the Florin Room and the Lodge Room. These rooms can also be opened up for use as one large room.

Available for rentals, the combined rooms also include a 50-foot-by-50-foot hardwood dance floor and a 46-foot by 16-foot stage.

Available to all members is a fitness center, which includes an indoor pool, Jacuzzi, steam room, racquetball and handball courts and a weight room.

Other amenities include a library and meeting room, a lounge with a full bar and small dance floor, a patio and barbecue area, a kitchen and a game room.

 

Strength of the Elks

Local residents express a variety of reasons why they enjoy being Elks members.

South Land Park resident Rudy Toralez said that being an Elk is something very fulfilling.

“The Elks is based on the benevolent people on Earth and they’re giving and they have a lot of charities and as a (6th grade) schoolteacher, I have the same mantra as the Elks,” Toralez said. “It’s the perfect fit. I get involved with the scholarship program for youth and whichever other programs they need me to volunteer.”

Kevin Soulis, a 1969 graduate of Christian Brothers High School and the Elks number one handball player for the past 30 years, said that he appreciates the opportunity that the lodge provides him with to play a sport that offers so many personal fitness advantages.

“You have to be athletic, you’ve got to be smart and you’ve got to be agile (to compete well at handball),” Soulis said. “It’s a tremendous game.”

The lodge’s event coordinator, Pocket resident Marilyn Facha, said that she appreciates that as of about 15 years ago ladies were given the rights, via a historic vote, to become members of the lodge.

“It’s very rewarding to be an Elk and help the kids and help the disabled,” Facha said. “You’re working for charities and Boy Scouts and veterans. It’s very satisfying to do our activities and have everything come out well and it’s just nice to support good causes.”

Currently, the local Elks lodge is led by 16 officers, including Richard Cherry, exalted ruler, Ronald Brusato, esteemed leading knight, Lona Taggart, esteemed loyal knight, and Darnell Lawrence, esteemed lecturing knight.

Additionally, Anthony M. Muljat serves as treasurer and the longest tenured member of the lodge, having joined the lodge 65 years ago.

Cherry said that Sacramento Elks Lodge No. 6 is a great lodge to be a member of due to its many social benefits and service oriented projects.

“It is an organization that is social in nature, it’s charitable and it’s a great way to become involved in our community and other communities,” Cherry said.

For additional information regarding Sacramento Elks Lodge No. 6, including how to become a member, call (916) 422-6666.

 

E-mail Lance at lance@valcomnews.com.