Buffalo Elks Temple #23: 207 - 211 Delaware Avenue

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The Buffalo Lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (B.P.O.E.) was chartered in 1884 as number 23. The fraternal organization, operating under the principles of Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love and Fidelity, met in a succession of five locations, including the Buffalo Builders Exchange, before they purchased the former George Starr Hazard mansion at 211 Delaware. The home, built in 1849, had an addition extending from the rear, which the Elks demolished and then constructed a 98 feet long, 44 feet wide structure, attached to the home by a conservatory. The new constuction, with the most modern ventilation and both gas and electric lighting, cost nearly $25,000. By the time the lodge finished renovating the house portion and furnishing the complex, they had spent nearly $100,000 of 1907 dollars ($2.3 million in 2010 dollars). The lodge had at this time 1,000 members.

Also called the Grand Salon, the above room in the old home faced the lawn and was furnished in Louis XVI style. The mirror on the wall at left was from Hazard estate; it was valued at $250.

Upstairs in the new addition was the Lodge Hall. To decorate the interior of the new Lodge Hall, the Elks held a competition for painters. From nine finalists, they selected Raphael Beck, locally famous because of his work for the Pan-American Exposition. He was paid $10,000 to create four large paintings and two ceiling murals.

Elbert Hubbard said, "I am not a jiner, but if I ever jine the jiners, I will begin with the Elks and probably end there. Without any special written code or creed, the Elks stand for a certain standard of intellect and ethics. The man with an Elk's tooth on his watch chain, or the antlers in his button hole, has no quarrel with God. He accepts life and finds it good."

By 1925, the Lodge had 3,500 members and the decision was made to demolish their temple at 211 Delaware and rebuild a larger facility with more amenities and rooms with baths for members or visiting Elks. They asked the architect to model the building after the new Statler Hotel just opened two blocks away. They planned to spend $700,000. Member business was conducted at 910 Main Street at a former Moose lodge during construction.

The new building featured an indoor pool, handball courts, bowling alleys, an auditorium seating 1,900. Two massive bronze doors opened into the lobby of Italian marble. Additional rooms were set aside for banquets and a library. The final cost, including furnishings, was $2,000,000 ($27.3 million in 2015 dollars).

Raphael Beck's paintings were once again on display, but only two were originals from the old lodge, "Flight of the Elk," and "Charity." The other images, "Justice," "Brotherly Love," and " Fidelity," were reproductions.

By 1933, the Depression forced the Elks to surrender the building to M & T bank, which held their $800,000 mortgage. The building operated as the Hotel Fillmore and, when the Elks were able to repurchase the building in 1942 for $125,000, they kept the hotel operating. Their membership was 1,600.

By 1945, the Elks realized that their enormous structure was a white elephant and began looking for buyers. In 1954, it was sold for use as a hotel. The Elks moved to the Orin Foster home and, in 1957, purchased the Birge mansion from the Franciscan MIssionary Sisters of the Divine Child for $100,000.

For a time, the building served as the Hotel Mars. Then in 1967, it was sold to Niagara Frontier Services, Inc. which planned to use the building for offices. It was sold again to the Media Study Group; the AAO Gallery was located in the building and on its ceiling was Raphael Beck's "Flight of the Elk." Delaware Huron Development purchased it in 1986 from tax foreclosure and attempted to market it to the federal government.