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On January 1, 1952, in the
Home-office of Eugene and
Minnie Cyr, which was known as "Junction Court", a number of
friends and relatives were present to listen (radio) to the
Rose Bowl game. Drinks and snacks were the order of the
afternoon. Those present were a sister and brother-in-law
from Palo Alto, California. Their son and his wife from
Eugene, Oregon. Beryle and Rose Rutledge, owners of the
Penguin Cafe, across Highway 101 from the courthouse. Some-
time during the afternoon the question of could an "Elks
Lodge" be started in Florence. Of the five men present,
four were Elk members from California, South Dakota, Idaho,
and Oregon. The other man present later became a Charter
Member of Florence Lodge #1858. The possibility of a Lodge
in Florence was well talked over. About two weeks later,
an add was placed in the "Siuslaw Oar" newspaper asking that
any interested Elk meet at the Penguin Cafe, on a certain
date. The use of the dining room was donated by the Rutledges.
This first meeting gathered in the neighborhood of a dozen
Elks, from far and near. After some discussion, Cyr offered
to go into Eugene Lodge, and talk to Chris Ottman, Secretary,
with Brothers ~Ed Archer furnishing the car. We were told ;
to contact Brother Frank Hise of Corvallis and Brother Cliff
Mudd of Salem. Upon returning to Florence, Cyr, wrote to
the above Brothers. A meeting was set up at an early date,
We were now between 20 and 30 Elk members in the area. A
number of these Elks were contacting possible new members.
This went on for many weeks. The home office of the
Secretary were almost in daily use, processing the new
application. The application fee was set at $25.00 and
yearly dues at $14.00. As Coos Bay Lodge was a few miles
nearer to Florence, than Eugene Lodge, so it was designat-
ed as the Mother Lodge
After a period of no mail from the Grand Lodge, corres-
pondence and instructions, were being held by the Chairman
Joe Carter as his personal mail. Brother Frank Hise straight-
ened this out but quick, when he was informed about it.
At a meeting in May, the committee and members were
informed that an Elks Lodge would be instituted in Florence.
The committees Secretary, Eugene Cyr, was told to take the
262 applications and forty dimits to Coos Bay Lodge for
processing. It came as somewhat of a shock to the Exalted
Ruler and Secretary of Coos Bay, as they had not read some
of their Grand Lodge mail. The District Deputy Grand Exalted
Ruler, Kerby Fortuner, soon got things under control. On
the return home John Sampson asked me if he could nominate
me for Exalted Ruler:
. It was agreed
that I would nominate John Sampson, and I would accept the
nomination for Treasurer, in' order to have my name on the
"Charter". The first twelve membership numbers were drawn
from a bowl for the original attendence. Number thirteen
was given to Bob Murray at his request. The dimits were
assigned the nest numbers as they had been received, and
then the new applications.
On June 4, 1952, in the High School gym, Florence
Lodge #1858 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks
was officially instituted. With that many (masked) can-
didates it was necessary to turn them to face the instructing
station. There was a party for all who were initiated at
the V.F.W. hall, afterward, and it was a dandy.
The upstairs of the Kyle building was rented and re-
modeled for the Lodge room. The Coos Bay Lodge had donated
a very good bar. It was sometime in 1954 that Joe Carter,
Lodge Secretary was called before a committee of Officers,
and confronted with the shortage of Lodge and Club funds.
He had prepared himself well, for such an occasion. In a
very short time he had disposed of all his local holdings,
and skipped town. Through a local Oil Distribution (credit
card) he was found to be in Flordia. All Elks Lodges were
notified and asked to pick up his Florence Elks membership
card if ever presented.
Early in November, 1956, the Officers were ready to
by a couple of Brothers. A former Lodge Secretary, Phil
Tout, took over for Brother Weber. Before Lodge was closed
it was learned that Brother Weber had died.
Exalted Ruler, Leon Lewis, asked me if I would, if
elected, take over the Secretary duties, for the remaining
five months in the Lodge year. I did and was elected an
additional eleven times.
The purchase of the "Kyle" building was considered as
Lodge rooms. It was voted down. Property at the North end
of the Siuslaw Bridge, and East side of Highway 101, was
purchased. However, it was a large sand hill and too
expensive to level. Later lots were purchased on twelfth
street and the Lodge Building was built. In the Corner Stone
is a copper can with some mementos of the times, along with
some of Florence Lodge 1858's history. |