Elks Lodge

“That the erection of a $30,000 Elks' home on the lot at the corner of State and Geneva streets will be commenced early next spring was the announcement made today by the officers of Ithaca Lodge, No. 636, B. P. O. E. Plans for the structure have already been prepared. 

The lot has a frontage of 66 feet on State street and a depth of 164 feet on Geneva street. It has been owned by the local Elks lodge for several years and is valued at $10,000. The building, which will be three stories in height and fire proof, will cost $30,000 exclusive of furnishings….

Building Plans. 

The building, with its exterior of wire-cut brick, will set back about ten or fifteen feet from State street and will be surrounded by an iron fence built on brick posts of the same material as the building. The building will be L shapedw [sic] with a frontage of 35 feet on State street which leaves a small area at the corner that can later be planted and developed [sic] on a plan in harmony with the building itself. 

A marquise entrance on State street will lead to the ground floor, several steps above street. As the building will be 59 fet [sic] deep and 66 feet wide from east to west, there will be plenty of room.

At the front will be a large lounging room, back of which will be the billard [sic] room and grill with a floor space of 55 by 25 fet, [sic] extending nearly entire width of the building from the east line of the lot to Geneva street. 

The second floor will have a banquet hall, 53 by 25 feet, which can be used for dances, and a sideway is so arranged that the hall can be used without passing through any other portion of the building. At the front of the banquet hall will be a game room which can be used as a dressing room for dances and social affairs, connected with the main hall by a promenade. 

The lodge room 53 by 25 feet, will be on the third floor directly over the banquet hall. The front portion of the third floor will contain a room for the trustees and secretary. On the roof of the front wing will be a roof garden reached by a circular stairway and surmounted by a trellis. 

The kitchen will be placed in the basement with a dumbwaiter running through to roof and connecting all floors. In the basement will also be a room containing shower baths, with a passage leading to the large yard in the rear, where a place for tennis and other games will be developed.

A large veranda connected with both the billiard and lounging rooms will occupy the northwest angle of the structure and will be surmounted by a trellis. The windows of the planned building are large and numerous and there will be a fireplace in nearly every room.”

"Elks to Build $30,000 Home; Start in Spring," Ithaca Journal, November 15, 1915, 3.