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Show rp Im o Section Sun Advocate B State convention here this weekend Price Elks Club celebrates 50 years of service by JOE IlOLANDO JR., Freelance Writer The dedication and membership that helped form the Price Lodge No. 1550, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, 50 years ago continues to be its stalwarts today. It was 1929 when 14 Carbon County businessmen met in the Notre Dame hall to investigate the possibility of forming a lodge here. Three months later on May 4, 1929, that goal was realized, and the old Carbon High School auditorium served as the lodge hall. The way some Elk members tell it, the meetings sometimes consisted of only a handful of men who met wherever the meeting place was designated at the time. After adjourning the business part of the meeting, the members usually started a game of cards, a fitting way in those days of sharing friendship. Today the Elks meet in a modern hall at 23 East 100 North, but the number of those whose persistence of meeting regularly and participating in the various projects can be attributed to the continuance of the club which has swelled to about 1,300. Exalted Ruler Lyle Mower has his way there will be And if more of those 1,300 participating in the business of the club by the end of his reign. If theres a way to double it, it would be out of this vention. world, he said. Since he joined the lodge in 1960, he has felt that members should do a little more than just carry cards and participate in the social activities. But he said it should be the lodges duty to seek out the members instead of the other way around. shows This week the state focuses on the lodge as it celebrates its 50th anniversary and hosts the 65th Annual Utah State Elks Con A look dation and convert it into a lodge. back into history Prices attitude towards the Elks hasnt changed much said, When I found out were purchasing that, I felt if they thats the kind of organization they are. Ill join. Mower since those early days. Newspaper accounts show that prior to the installation of the first lodge in the old Carbon High And in 1961, a year after construction was completed, the new lodge was dedicated. Managed by Willie Upchurch, it offers a large dance and meeting hall, lounge, kitchen and dining room as well as a spacious basement where a gun safety class is taught, the Girl Scouts meet and the Elks repair broken toys for Christmas. an impressive parade met the special train carrying the School, visiting Elks, and the visitors were escorted through the flag decked streets of the city. -- Price City had the welcome and signs Welcome B.P.O.E. greeted the visitors in every mercantile window in the city. A large key to the city was presented to Mr. Farrer (acting as grand exalted ruler) by Mayor W.F. Olson. sign on the doormat, more to as Mower calls it, than a nice place to meet. One of our requirements is that an Elk must be an American gentleman who guides his course in life by the cardinal principles of charity, But there is much S.J. Sweetring, a Price attorney, who joined the lodge in 1931, recalls those early days well. When he joined, the lodge met in a room in the Grosso justice, fidelity, and brotherhood Mower said. some of the comservice projects the Elks munity here perform to prove that those principles are practices. He cited Larcher Building. Later, the meeting place moved to the present American Legion Hall on First West. At all the Elk-do- The lodge participates in a hide regular meetings, "An impressive parade met the special train carrying the visiting Elks, and the visitors d were escorted through the city... Price City had the welcome sign on the flag-decke- doormat," according to a newspaper story 50 years ago. the officers wore tuxedos, said Sweetring, who served as lodge secretary for 28 years. Sweetring said among some of the more noteable persons who belonged to the club were A.D. Keller, BiU Welsh Jr., and J. Bracken Lee, former Price mayors and Marion Bliss, former Carbon County Sheriff. All served as Exalted Rulers. The first officers of the lodge were Dean Holdaway, exalted ruler; Harold V. Leonard, leading knight; Clyde J. Roberts, loyal knight; C.E. Powers, 3 - year trustee; Joe Barboglio Sr., 2 year trustee; J.E. Flynn, 1 year W. Frank Averill, tiler; trustee; J.P. Phalen, esquire; R.W. Crockett, innger guard and A.F. Giovannoni, chaplain. -- Leading a meeting of the Price Elks Lodge is Lyle Mower exalted ruler, (left). With him are Cloyd Plummer, secretary and Oscar Davido, treasurer. Photo by Joe Rolando, Jr. The charter members, whose names still hang on a plaque in the lodge, are J. Bracken Lee, S. Marion Bliss, Joseph M. Miller, George M. Sherfick, James P. Johnstone, Charles Ruggeri Jr., James M. Wilson, William Steckleman, Elmer C. Young, Hyrum E. Thompson, J. Allen Browne, Roy G. Woodhead, Ervin E. Wright, Joseph L. Rebol, Victor E. Litizzette, L. Dow Young, Dean Holdaway, Leo Kennery, H.P. Leonard, Frank Averill, Thomas E. Lamph, Arthur Bailey, R.W. Crockett, C.J. Powers, H.B. Myers, J.W. Crawford, H.B. Simonsen, R.J. Jacobshagen, J.P. Phalen, L.F. Crogan, Fred E. Wilson, J.C. Vaught, R.C. Reid, C.J. Roberts, C.A. Knobbs, J.G. Galanis, J.E. Flynn, W.F. Elliot, F. Payne, Charles Leger, C.E. McDermid, Joseph Barboglio Sr., F.R. Porter, J.L. OBrien, Glen L. Nelson, Erin H. Leonard, B.M. Members meet in the Main Hall (center) serves as the center of rituals, including meetings. Reddington, Ed J. Wentzel, J.G. Simonsen and A.E. Giovannoni. Aside from the attraction that the charity and fellowship the lodge practices among themselves and for others holds, another reason the club has continued to grow, is that of the universality of membership privileges, said Sweetring. He said no matter where a member goes his membership card admits him to a lodge. Mower, the exalted ruler, said joined when they turned that monstrosity on the corner of First East and First North into the Elks Ixidge." He said plans called for the construction of a hotel there, but when the deal fell through, the Elks decided to buv the foun- I The center of Elks activities is the lodge home at 23 East North. 100 The elk, the symbol of Lodge Home in Price. the Elks Lodge, sits in front of the program for verterans who need rehabilitation in hospitals. The hides of deer, elk, moose and cattle are collected, tanned and then turned over to the hospitals where the veterans make leather goods. Mower said he believed that the Price lodge collected its largest number ever last year. There were about 220 deer hides, an undetermined number of Elk hides, two moose hides and eight cow hides, he said. The lodge also teaches a hunter safety program for youngsters. Organizers were Mower, Julius Spigarelli Jr., the instructors, and Dr. F.A. Migliore, who conceived the idea. Since 1963 about 2,681 youngsters have been trained. Then there is the Christmas basket and toy projects for the needy as well as the Americanism essay contest and hoop shoot basketball program for school children and the Worthy Student program for high school seniors. For members, the Elks Lodge sponsors Purple and White Day, consisting of a picnic and outing for families. The lodge also holds its annual Father and Daughter Banquet, Father and Son Banquet, Mothers Day Banquet, Memorial services for deceased Elks and Flag Day ceremonies. Sweetring said, It (the lodge) has more of a family appeal now. It was 100 percent for males then. But times have made it of interest to families. Just as much a part of the lodge is the Lady Elks, who came into being at the same time the lodge was founded. A newspaper account said that the visiting Lady Elks were taken in charge by a committee headed by Mrs. C.E. McDermid of Castle Gate, and were guests of the local Lady Elks at the Country Club. Today leading the Lady Elks here are: Joan Felice, president; Lois Bills, vice - president; Florence Sealey, secretary; Judy Spigarelli, treasurer; Annie Bills, auditor; Jackie Butkovich, historian and Marge Guy, parlimentarian and outgoing president. Assisting Mower lead the lodge are Robert Milano, leading knight; Monty Hatch, loyal knight; Evan Reid, lecturing knight; Roger Fordham, squire; Raymond Ariotti, chaplain; Julius Spigarelli Jr., inner guard; Sam Tallerico Jr., tiler; Cloyd Plummer, secretary and Oscar Davido, treasurer. |