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PrincetonINLodge634Origins
A Brief History of Princeton (IN) Lodge #634
The Princeton Elks Lodge was instituted on Dec 13, 1900. According to the
Princeton Daily Clarion, "There will be Elks from Evansville, Mt
Vernon, Vincennes, New Albany, Terre Haute, Podunk, Squeedunk,
Hunkerdunk and most every other place this side of the other place."
The first stated meeting of the Princeton Elks was held in the Red Men Lodge Hall on Dec. 18, 1900.
Old minutes indicate the Elks met in rented halls until 1906 when the
present structure was purchased. The "Harrington Property" as it was
called, was purchased for the stately sum of $3,000.00. The home was
built by the Joseph Devin family sometime prior to 1853. The Devins
were known for their hospitality to dignitaries and celebrities
visiting Princeton. The purchase was reported to the Lodge on May 9,
1906 with the Grand Opening slated for April 31 - May 1 of 1907. The
formal dedication was held on May 1, 1907 with officers from Vincennes
Lodge #291 initiating 17 new Brothers into the Order. During the flu
epidemic of 1918, the members turned the Elks Home over to the Red
Cross for hospital purposes exclusively for influenza patients. This
lasted from late October till late December of that year. The Home was
open 24 hours a day after the Tri State Tornado which destroyed the
southern part of Princeton (in March, 1926). Food, drink and cots were
available to weary relief workers and those left homeless by the
twisters. Following WWII, a dining room was added onto the
structure(built in 1947). The new room seated 120 people and was
formally dedicated on August 12, 1948.
The membership continually upgraded the facility, remodeling,
redecorating and modernizing. The Lady Elks Auxiliary, which came to be
by Lodge direction in 1909, played a major role in both decorating and
fund raising for remodeling on the structure. The exterior went through
various facelifts until the 1990's when a renovation was undertaken to
give this grand old building more of the look it had in its' early
days. The work is ongoing but the results have been worth it. The
Princeton Elks Lodge has served Princeton and Gibson County for over
100 years. The projects have been as diverse as the ideas of the
membership and their hard work and dedication continues today
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