A BRIEF HISTORY OF KALISPELL ELKS LODGE #725
Kalispell Lodge No. 725 B. P. O. E. was instituted on September 9, 1901. District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler W.E. Chamberlain, with the assistance of the officers of Great Falls Lodge No. 214, conducted the ceremonies and initiated 48 Charter Members. The Lodge grew steadily from its inception. The idea of building an Elks Temple was discussed from the very beginning but for more than twenty years Kalispell Lodge struggled along as best it could, changing its place of meeting from time to time as changes became necessary and as circumstances warranted improved quarters. The first meeting after the Lodge was instituted was held upstairs in the Kalispell Sheet and Metal Company on first Ave East. There was a small room and two anterooms, scarcely large enough to accommodate 40 members. They occupied those quarters for about one year and then moved to the O’Connell lodge room on Main Street for about 5 years. Approximately the year of 1907 they moved to the Masonic Temple, which they occupied for a period of 10 years. About 1914, the lodge leased the storeroom in the McKnight Block on First Ave. East, for club room purposes. A sideboard was maintained and plenty of refreshments were available during those days. During the year 1917, the Lodge again moved to rooms over the Palm on Main Street. This location furnished both Lodge and club room facilities. The Lodge continued to meet in quarters over the Palm until they purchased the Y.M.C.A. building and moved in on January 10, 1922.
The purchase of the Y.M.C.A. building was not an easy one as there was much opposition. When the votes were counted, the tally was 60 votes for buying the building and 59 against. The Kalispell Lodge continued to occupy that building until 1969, when it was turned over to the city for a college building, and the Kalispell Elks constructed the present building they still occupy.
The Kalispell Elks Lodge has been an integral part of Kalispell since its inception, providing a meeting place for numerous organizations; support to the youths and veterans of the community; and charity to many of the needy of the area. The members of Kalispell Elks Lodge No. 725 would be proud to have you visit their Lodge and share in a history of well over 100 years of the institution of this fine chapter of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the United States of America.