Great celebration surrounded the institution of the Hudson Lodge #787, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, on June 23, 1902.

            The entire city joined in festivities at the Opera House, located in the former City Hall, which was decorated inside and out with purple - the color of the order. Warren Street was lined with decorative bunting for the occasion.

            The induction ceremony was performed under the auspices of Albany Lodge #49. The following officers were installed: Exalted Ruler Richard A.M. Deeley, Esteemed Leading Knight William F. Rooney, Esteemed Loyal Knight Grant A. Miller, Esteemed Lecturing Knight James J. McShane, Esquire A.F. Borgardus, Chaplain S.Y. Southard, Inner Guard Joseph H. Furling, Secretary Henry Buxbury, Treasurer Edward H, Lisk, and Trustees, Henry Hudson, Charles N. Traver, E. Washburn Scovill, and S.R. Peake.

            Initially, meetings were held in the city hall above the post office and at the Knights of Columbus hall.

            In 1903, the Elks began managing the Opera House as a legitimate theater, ultimately changing the name to the Elks Theater. As its first attraction, the lodge presented Robert Mantell of Tremayne's "The Dagger and the Cross".

            In 1907, the club stopped managing the theater when new headqurters were found in the Hudson River National Bank on Warren Street. It had a reception room, reading and smoking rooms, buffet and kitchen on the gound floor, and card rooms, committee chamber and billiard rooms above.

            It served as its home until 1936 when the presnt lodge at 601 Union Street was established at the former Gillete property, dedicated with a ceremony and a banquet November 15, 1936

            There was a grand ball that week too, remembered by some as the top social event of the season.

            A two-story brick addition was built to the rear subsequently, housing a grill room, bar, and four bowling lanes on the first floor and a lodge hall on the second.

            In 1975 the meeting room was enlarged, a new kitchen and storeroom added, new and enlarged restrooms installed, a confrence room built, a public entrance erected, and rooms painted and carpeted.

            Also a sauna was relocated in the old locker room and a new locker room built near the bowling lanes. The exterior of the building was sandblasted to its original beauty, the parking area enlarged, a new sidewalk put in and a spotlight installed to illuminate the flagpole.

            Among community activities performed by the Elks are sponsorship of Little League and Babe Ruth teams; golf, bowling and skiing tournaments; the "Turkey Trot" foot race on Thanksgiving; and a basketball free-throw contest. It also does charity work like sponsoring trips to the Catskill Game Farm for handicapped children. In the late 1930's, a college scholarship fund was estabished.

            Flag Day, usually marked by parade, was originated by the Elks organization.

            The Elks also remember the Veterans in our hospitals and help raises money for the NYS Cerebral Palsy program.