About the Elks

Joining the Elks Club in their historic brownstone comes with many benefits, said the club’s offices.

Built in 1908, this grand structure served for many years as Masonic Lodge 236 before it was purchased by the Elks in 1982.

The building provides the club with dance floor and banquet hall, a billiards room, and a spectacular lodge room where members can gather for camaraderie.

The lodge meets at 7:30 p.m. the second and fourth Thursday of each month except in July, August and December, when members meet the second Thursday only.

Dick Sislo, exalted ruler of the Superior Lodge 403, said the private club allows members to enjoy an evening out without the hassles that can sometimes come with going to a bar. It also allows members to travel amongst lodges nationwide where they’re certain to meet friendly faces with shared interests.

The benevolent organization offers a variety of services to youth in the community, including a youth “Hoop Shoot” basketball program, a drug awareness program, scholarships and other youth oriented activities.

“We’re second only to the federal government in scholarships,” Lecturing Knight Cris Crum said of the national organization.

The club is also involved in a variety of activities to honor veterans and raises money to help charitable organizations in the community such as Harbor Houses Crisis Shelters.

To become a member, Sislo said all someone has to do is get a member to sponsor them, then if they decide they like it, they can join.

Elks Lodge 403, 1503 Belknap St., has about 300 members, 100 of whom are active in the club.

Office hours for the Superior lodge are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays. The club is open 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. Monday-Saturday.

For more information, call (715) 394-7403 or visit www.elks.org/lodges/LodgePages.

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