BAYONNE LODGE
No. 434
Bayonne Elks Lodge No. 434 was instituted on May 15th, 1898, at
the old Masonic Hall located at Avenue C and West Eighth Street. The
installation ceremonies were performed by District Deputy Fort of
Camden, who was assisted by officers of Jersey City Lodge 211 and
Hoboken Lodge 74 with Thomas F. Garrett installed as the first
Exalted Ruler, and initial membership of 329.
 Bayonne
Lodge was the first fraternal organization in the City of Bayonne to
own it's own home and club rooms, the former Newark Bay Boat Club,
located at 41 West 34th Street - a site occupied for 99 years
until November 2004. The building, pictured above had four bowling
alleys on the first floor, a reception hall, billiard parlor and
cafe, on the second floor there was a commodious hall, ladies parlor
and committee room. A need to
move to a smaller and more manageable home was done on November 15,
2004 with the purchase the former "Jo Cino's Restaurant" located
at 364 Broadway.
|
434's
FIRST
EXALTED RULER |
434's
CURRENT
EXALTED RULER |
|
Thomas Garrett |
James Stendardo |
Current
Grand Exalted Ruler
And National President
F. Louis
Sulsberger
Flora, Illinois Lodge No. 1659
STATE PRESIDENT NJSEA
Roy
DeRitter
Passaic Valley
Lodge No. 2111 |
THE JOLLY
CORKS
In 1867, Charles Vivian formed the "Jolly Corks", a loose, social
organization that was to become the forerunner of the Elks we know
today. The spirit of benevolence came quickly to these revelers.
Just before Christmas in 1867, one of their members died leaving his
wife and family destitute. These men recognized the need to form a
more enduring organization to help family members in need. On
February 16th, 1868, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks was
established.
Since that day in February 1868, the B.P.O. Elks have become an
integral part of our communities nationwide. It was the Order of
Elks who were first to observe June 14th as Flag Day in 1907.
President Harry S. Truman, an Elk himself, declared it a National
Holiday in 1947. During World War I, Elks funded and equipped the
first field hospitals in France. They built medical centers and
community houses here in the United States. It was the Order of Elks
that first loaned money to 40,000 returning veterans for
rehabilitation and education, the precursor to the modern G.I. Bill.
The Elks recruited construction workers for the military in World
War II, donated millions of pints of blood during the Korean War,
helped wounded soldiers in Vietnam, and undertook letter writing
campaigns to support the men and women of Operation Desert Storm.
The tragedy of September 11th saw the over one million membership of
the Order collect needed emergency supplies and money in excess of
$1.2 million dollars.
The legacy of Charles Vivian continues to this day. The Brotherhood
of Elks serves youth and others in need through a variety of
programs like the annual "Soccer-Shoot" and "Hoop-Shoot."
Scholarships and grants from the Elks National Foundation are second
only to the Federal Government, State Major Projects help
handicapped children and bring health care to where it's needed.
Elks Drug Awareness programs sponsor P.E.E.R. and D.A.R.E. groups
and distribute booklets and pamphlet to our grade school children.
The extensive charitable works of individual lodges and members
enrich the lives of millions of Americans each year.
Our story is long; our work is humble; our history is proud. Our
rich and distinguished heritage over the last 130 years bodes well
for the future - what we've come from is only half of what we will
be in the years to come!
Original Jolly Corks |
