1890: The Tacoma Elks Lodge (#174) was established in 1890, 22 years after the formation of the national Elks organization (the original https://www.paranormalunderground.net/about-pug-radio.html lodge being in New York City).
[The Tacoma Elks relocated a few times to different, larger facilities in the city]
1915-16: The Tacoma Elks built an opulent and grand new “temple,” together with the Spanish Steps, located between Broadway and Commerce streets, across from what then was City Hall and the Northern Pacific Railroad headquarters––a most prominent site known as the Point of Power. The Elks held its grand opening at the new temple in February 1916.
1937 & 1940: Two additions were constructed to the Elks Temple, on the west side of the original structure, to house a new kitchen, handball courts and bowling alley.
1950s: Because of soaring membership, the Elks start looking and planning for a new location for a larger, more modern lodge. Having previously acquired the Allenmore Golf Course in the south end of the city, the Elks decided to construct their new lodge on that property.
1965: New lodge is completed near Allenmore Golf Course (present-day site of Walmart). The Elks move out of their old 565 Broadway location into their new lodge. At this point, the Tacoma Elks Lodge #174 is said to have had the largest membership of any Elks Lodge in the nation.
1966-1971: Tacoma City Directories list the old Elks Lodge as vacant. Wealthy Tacoman, George Russell (president & GM of the Tacoma New Tribune), purchases the old Elks Lodge in 1968, and makes plans for the building’s next life.
1971: George Russell re-opens the old Elks Lodge as a catering space, featuring a new eatery called the 565 Restaurant (in the old Elks dining room, on the Broadway level. The restaurant continued into 1986, when Russell passed away) and an entertainment venue (the ballroom & stage space) that opens onto the Spanish Steps.
Many high school graduation parties and company parties were held here.
In 1971 & 1972: The Red Rose Cotillion debutante ball was held in the ballroom. This was a very special event for African American high school girls from the area.
November 1975: Tacoma’s gay community holds its first-ever event, the Barony Ball, in the ballroom. They continued to hold numerous events there through 1986.
1975-76: The Tacoma-Pierce County Bicentennial Commission opened an office in the building
1977-85: Tacoma Handball Association Club operates the handball courts. George Cobean and Michael O. Byrne served as president over this period.
1979: Toastmasters International held meetings here
1981-82: A movie theater opens under the management of Al Kephart and Seymour Johnson (dba J & J Productions) as well as Seymour Johnson on his own establishing the 565 Dinner Theatre in the building.
George Russell’s 565 Restaurant continued its operation.
1981-1985: The Kiwanis Club and Lions Club met here regularly
1985: Local theater producer and actor Nick Credgington partners with George Russell to form the 565 Broadway Restaurant and Dinner Theatre.
1986: George Russell dies; the restaurant and Credginton’s dinner theater cease operations and the old Elks Lodge goes dark.
1988-90: Scenes for Nick Nolte-Martin Short movie, Three Fugitives, and Kevin Kline movie, I Love You to Death, were filmed in and around the old Elks Lodge
1989: Ron Zimmerman, a Bay-area real estate mogul and true character, acquires the old Elks Lodge. Zimmerman, who was born in China and lived there has grand plans for the place, including a massive tower addition to be built on the lot next to the lodge. Bad luck, bad health, bad temper and bad press prevent anything from happening. And for the better part of 30 years, the building sat empty…
…though not really empty. Graffiti artists did wondrous things throughout the building, and untold numbers of high school kids, homeless people and curious onlookers explored the vast spaces, and gradually the place was stripped of most all of its fixtures and architectural flourishes. A centrally placed ceiling light fixture remained in the top floor lodge room, which is a prized piece now.
2017: After a decade of negotiating, waiting and plan, McMenamins begins its renovation of the old Elks Lodge.
April 24, 2019: McMenamins Elks Temple throws open its doors with a grand opening celebration!