Lodge numbers are assigned as new lodges are instituted, so we have the distinction of being the 271st lodge in the order. New York Lodge #1 (also known as the Jolly Corks) were the first lodge admitted into the order.
Oswego Elks Lodge was instituted on October 31, 1893, initiating a class of 30 community members in a ceremony at Pythian Hall. The venue was at the corner of West 1st and Bridge Streets in downtown Oswego. District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler Halsey W. Warren from Little Falls Lodge #42 served as Grand Exalted Ruler. He was assisted by Grand Secretary Allen O. Myers of Cincinnati, and members of Syracuse Lodge #31. Immediately after the initiation, the lodge held a business session with the following members being elected to office: Exalted Ruler A.A. Sullivan; Esteemed Leading Knight W. J. Hancock; Esteemed Loyal Knight H.W. Mitchell; Esteemed Lecturing Knight M.T. Kinnane; Secretary J.H. Kelly; Treasurer H.C. Smith; Esquire M.B. Crawford; Inner Guard Bernard Gallagher; Tiler John C. Woods; Chaplain Dr. W.J. Bulger; and Trustees M. Gill, C.F. Beard, and J.F. Dain, Jr.
While the lodge took in their first class in 1893, they did not receive their charter until June 1894 at the Grand Lodge Convention in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
It is believed that Oswego Elks Lodge held their meetings in Pythian Hall in the years following its institution. On June 26, 1900 the lodge officially opened their new home on the corner of West 1st and Cayuga Streets. The dedication ceremony was conducted by District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler for Western New York Maurice M. Garson from Rochester Lodge #24. At the ceremony, members of Oswego Elks Lodge were congratulated on their growth in a short time and being owners of such a beautiful building. It was also mentioned that although there were numerous civic and fraternal organizations in the city and many that had been existence for years, the Elks were the first to own their own building. Oswego Elks Lodge remained in that location until 1922 when they purchased our current building on the corner of West 5th and Bridge Streets.
Construction on this building began in 1847 and was completed in 1851 by Gilbert Mollison for use as a private residence. There is a long list of notable people who have lived in the building throughout the years. A.B. Merriam and his wife Hannah (daughter of Thomas Hanford Wentworth) were the building's first occupants. In 1866, the building was sold to John R. Noyes who sold the building in 1880 to Malvina Guimaraes. Upon her death in 1882, the residence was sold to Neil Gray who was a partner in Oswego Shade Company and whose son established Oswego Machine Works. When Gray died in 1922, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks purchased the building. The hall was added in 1961 and was expanded in the 1970s. In 1983, the lodge bar was renovated and the kitchen was expanded in 1990. The lodge has had many opportunities to sell the building, but the history cannot be replaced, so members are always active in updating the structure.
Oswego Elks Lodge is home to two Past State Presidents. James H. Macklin was installed as State President in 1932 at the state convention in Rochester, NY. In 1987, Daniel J Capella was installed as State President at the state convention in Kiamesha Lake, NY. Capella was most recently named Grand Lodge Committeeman as member of the Government Relations Committee at the Grand Lodge Convention in San Antonio, TX in 2018.
Our lodge has the honor of being an All-American Lodge. We are also the recipient of many statewide awards for their work in the lodge and throughout the community.
Oswego Elks Lodge #271 has over 800 members and is one of the eight lodges in Central District #6300. The other lodges in the district are Camillus Lodge #31, Utica Lodge #33, Rome Lodge #96, Auburn Lodge #474, Oneida Lodge #767, Fulton Lodge #830, and Liverpool Lodge #2348. There are 14 districts in New York comprised of 150 lodges and 85,000 members.
Oswego Elks Lodge was instituted on October 31, 1893, initiating a class of 30 community members in a ceremony at Pythian Hall. The venue was at the corner of West 1st and Bridge Streets in downtown Oswego. District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler Halsey W. Warren from Little Falls Lodge #42 served as Grand Exalted Ruler. He was assisted by Grand Secretary Allen O. Myers of Cincinnati, and members of Syracuse Lodge #31. Immediately after the initiation, the lodge held a business session with the following members being elected to office: Exalted Ruler A.A. Sullivan; Esteemed Leading Knight W. J. Hancock; Esteemed Loyal Knight H.W. Mitchell; Esteemed Lecturing Knight M.T. Kinnane; Secretary J.H. Kelly; Treasurer H.C. Smith; Esquire M.B. Crawford; Inner Guard Bernard Gallagher; Tiler John C. Woods; Chaplain Dr. W.J. Bulger; and Trustees M. Gill, C.F. Beard, and J.F. Dain, Jr.
While the lodge took in their first class in 1893, they did not receive their charter until June 1894 at the Grand Lodge Convention in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
It is believed that Oswego Elks Lodge held their meetings in Pythian Hall in the years following its institution. On June 26, 1900 the lodge officially opened their new home on the corner of West 1st and Cayuga Streets. The dedication ceremony was conducted by District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler for Western New York Maurice M. Garson from Rochester Lodge #24. At the ceremony, members of Oswego Elks Lodge were congratulated on their growth in a short time and being owners of such a beautiful building. It was also mentioned that although there were numerous civic and fraternal organizations in the city and many that had been existence for years, the Elks were the first to own their own building. Oswego Elks Lodge remained in that location until 1922 when they purchased our current building on the corner of West 5th and Bridge Streets.
Construction on this building began in 1847 and was completed in 1851 by Gilbert Mollison for use as a private residence. There is a long list of notable people who have lived in the building throughout the years. A.B. Merriam and his wife Hannah (daughter of Thomas Hanford Wentworth) were the building's first occupants. In 1866, the building was sold to John R. Noyes who sold the building in 1880 to Malvina Guimaraes. Upon her death in 1882, the residence was sold to Neil Gray who was a partner in Oswego Shade Company and whose son established Oswego Machine Works. When Gray died in 1922, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks purchased the building. The hall was added in 1961 and was expanded in the 1970s. In 1983, the lodge bar was renovated and the kitchen was expanded in 1990. The lodge has had many opportunities to sell the building, but the history cannot be replaced, so members are always active in updating the structure.
Oswego Elks Lodge is home to two Past State Presidents. James H. Macklin was installed as State President in 1932 at the state convention in Rochester, NY. In 1987, Daniel J Capella was installed as State President at the state convention in Kiamesha Lake, NY. Capella was most recently named Grand Lodge Committeeman as member of the Government Relations Committee at the Grand Lodge Convention in San Antonio, TX in 2018.
Our lodge has the honor of being an All-American Lodge. We are also the recipient of many statewide awards for their work in the lodge and throughout the community.
Oswego Elks Lodge #271 has over 800 members and is one of the eight lodges in Central District #6300. The other lodges in the district are Camillus Lodge #31, Utica Lodge #33, Rome Lodge #96, Auburn Lodge #474, Oneida Lodge #767, Fulton Lodge #830, and Liverpool Lodge #2348. There are 14 districts in New York comprised of 150 lodges and 85,000 members.