Third Avenue and Flagler purchased in 1912

Addition to original building in 1922

Less than two years later, the building was built and furnished. Total cost, including the original lot purchase, was $29,340.20In the year 1922, an addition of the third floor was made to the building. The second-floor balcony over-looking Flagler Street with a clear view of Biscayne Boulevard, was a perfect place to watch the Orange Bowl Parades.

     In 1928, Miami successfully hosted a Grand Lodge convention, the smallest (in membership) to have done so.

     The Miami Lodge set an early precedent in community welfare projects.  The Lodge’s creation of a blood bank for Dade County was one such move.  On February 7, 1941, Brother Trustee A.J. Cleary suggested that we invite doctors, nurses, and other organizations to a meeting.  The lodge acted on that suggestion and, with the endorsement of Governor Spessard Holland, Elks started what would become known as the John Elliott Blood Bank and would serve Miami-Dade County to this day.  Our lodge still holds frequent blood drives to aid our brothers and sisters—and the community itself—in time of illness and distress.

     During the war, Miami lodge threw open its doors to servicemen in the South Florida area.  After the war, the lodge’s Veterans Service Committee was formed to help returning veterans, a committee that remains one of the lodge’s busiest to this day, with some of its volunteers having aided veterans for decades.  A special Armed Forces blood drive netted 664 pints of blood for our service personnel.

     According to an Sara Rimer, Herald Staff Writer, in the year 1949, our Lodge 948 had a membership of 1,775, the largest in the state.

     The list of this lodge’s charity services is endless, both for Elks charities and for the community.  Besides 46 years of charity balls, our members initiated the Empty Stocking Fund that became a part of the Community Chest that later became the United Way.

     We have thrown parties for needy children, delivered food baskets to unfortunate families, held crippled children’s clinics (under the aegis of the FSEA Harry-Anna Hospital) for years, and conducted other health related programs.  We have sponsored numerous scholarships, team sports and scout troops for decades.  We have sent many boys and girls to another FSEA project, the Youth Camp in Umatilla, Florida; that camp has also been the frequent recipient of gifts from Miami Lodge No. 948.

     In the early ‘50’s, our beautiful funeral ritual so moved an Elk’s widow, Mrs. Maude Brickell, that she offered the Miami lodge, for a nominal fee, a five and three-quarter acre site known as Brickell Point.  Her only stipulation was that she be allowed to reside in her home until her death.  This land sale was culminated in 1956, processed by Dade County’s only judge, Frank Blanton, also a member of Miami Lodge.  In 1958, Mrs. Brickell died and her home became home to the USO for about a two-year period.

   March 19, 1959 began a three-day celebration in which Exalted Ruler Irwin J. Block presided over a dinner and formal dedication of the lodge at the address of 495 Brickell Avenue.  Everyone admired the lodge’s beauty, particularly that of a beautiful Italian marble cornerstone donated by Brother Sidney Palmer.  Exalted Ruler Block was a pioneer in other ways, too, such as spearheading the lodge’s Family Participation Program and helping to form the ladies organization, The Elkettes of  Miami 948.

   The current practice of throwing large-scale charity balls began under the leadership of  Anthony Brooks, Exalted Ruler and his Leading Knight, Frank Obermeyer in the 1960’s, as he became the first Charity Ball Chairman.

   Frank Obermeyer took over as Exalted Ruler the following year. (1961-62).  He presented the Elkettes with their own meeting room, and he expanded the family oriented recreational facilities to further the Family Participation Program.  Friday night fish fries, Saturday night dances, and Sunday picnics continued the family trend.  Under Obermeyer’s direction, the lodge hosted the Grand Lodge National Convention the second time for 948.

    In the mid-sixties, these social/family activities dwindled, but other successes took their place.  Under the leadership of Exalted Ruler Arthur Corby (1964-65), the lodge donated 365 pints of blood, building our account at the John Elliott Blood Bank to a new peak, and was the most successful since the war years.  Our Charities Ball had grown so large it was moved to the Bayfront Park Auditorium, and our 60^th Anniversary Inaugural Banquet and Ball was a huge success.  One National Convention brought visiting brothers to the Miami lodge from as far away as Alaska.  During Exalted Ruler John Trabold’s year, the lodge was honored by visits of two Grand Exalted Rulers in one year.

     In the late sixties, Exalted Ruler, J.L. Plummer, Jr., (1966-67) installed officers of the newly formed Hialeah Lodge, the Elkettes re-modeled the lodge, and the Miami Lodge became the headquarters for the South Florida Crippled Children’s Clinic.

     Lodge activities were so vibrant at the time of our 13^th Annual Charity Ball in 1967 that now, a third of a century later, many members still fondly reminisce those times. An excerpt from The Miami Elks Bulletin, May 1974 issue is as follows:  …”Ella Mae Shroyer is coordinating the activities of our ladies [The Elkettes, that is], and will welcome all who wish to cooperate in their efforts.”  She’s still doing the same thing (even better) in the year 2003 as an Elk of Lodge 948.

Like the nation, Miami Elks Lodge has weathered bad times and good times since our beginning, but this new Millennium brings renewed vibrancy and promise to the lodge that began with those 22 charter members almost a century ago at Miami’s Tuxedo Club. Our sincere thanks to Rosa Palma for her valuable assistance and excellence in keeping of records in the compilation of our treasured history of Miami Elk’s Lodge No. 948.  Thanks also to Gunther Weigel, P.E.R. and to Robert Bussen, Past Secretary of Lodge 948 for their valuable information as we rapidly approach our Centennial Celebration on July 13^th, 2005.

Another chapter can now be added to the history of Miami Elks Lodge No. 948, as we have passed two more July 13ths after our Centennial Celebration and are moving on to beginning our 103^rd year and toward the end of 2007.  We are also about to celebrate our 53^rd Annual Charity Ball which is a gala celebration for the end of this year. Our membership is just under 1,200 and our weekly events here are numerous including weddings; birthday celebrations, dinner dances, delicious food and just plain good times for all.  Numerous programs are conducted to promote charity:  one of our basic principles of the Order of Elks. We do Calypso dances; wine tasting parties the 4^th Wednesday of each month and Antique Auto Shows the 4^th Saturday of each month.  We sponsor a bus full of children each summer to the Elks Youth Camp in Umatilla, Florida.  Our Elks National Hoop Shoot Competition for the youngsters in early December is outstanding.  We support the Elks National Foundation and Harry Anna Trust Fund big time.  We have our own Elk’s Travel Bowling League where all prize funds go to Elk’s charities.  The local Boy Scout Troop 22 is based here for meetings, events, etc.

One project dear to our hearts is sponsorship of the United States Army Reserve 260^th Military Intelligence Battalion who have recently returned safely from Iraq.  While in Iraq, they proudly displayed and kept with them a banner from our Elks Lodge No. 948.  The banner was kept by a proud member of our Lodge, 1^st Lieutenant Stephan Gonzalez seen here on the left with Unit Commander Lt Col Aurthur C. Vandesande upon their arrival at unit headquarters in Iraq. Lt. Gonzalez is presenting the commander the letter of adoption penned by then Exalted Ruler Jeffrey Muehlfeld.

Stephan was promoted to 1^st Lieutenant while in Iraq.

Click here for more information about the 260th MIB

The lodge went on to solicit monetary donations from the members and those donations were used to construct the Wall of Valor which was dedicated to the unit. The Wall of Valor is located on the wall outside of the lodge room and was designed and created by Stephan's mother Lina, herself a member, his stepfather Jack who was the Loyal Knight at the time, and Elsa Bishop who was the Lodge Chaplain. The lodge members were also generous in donating items necessary for the unit and when it was all said and done, over 1,100 lbs. of goods was collected and shipped to the unit, the largest such "care" packages the unit had ever received.

Jack Lopez, Lina Lopez, Elsa Bishop and then Exalted Ruler Jeffrey Muehlfeld admire the Wall of Valor dedicated to the soldiers of the 260th Military Intelligence Battalion during their tour of duty in Iraq. Pictures of the soldiers, memorabilia, letters and correspondence adorn the wall.

Mother’s Day; Flag Day in June; the Fourth of July and our Elks Memorial in early December are all special events at our Lodge No. 948.  Another outstanding event, on our first Wednesday meeting night here at our Lodge, we donate a plaque and a $100. US Savings Bond to the Police Officer of the Month (selected by them)  from Local Station 5 of the Metro-Dade Police Department. Plans are in full swing now in preparing for our Annual Charity Ball to be held in the month of November, our major annual fund raiser  for Charity.  We are proud of our full and complete staff of Officers who do a tremendous job.  We are proud of our Elkettes associated with our Elks Lodge No. 948 who do a tremendous job in whatever they undertake.

   Proud of our Miami Elks Lodge No. 948?  You bet we are!

Respectfully submitted,

Edna J. Camacho