History of Brainerd Lodge #615
February 1868
Founding of the National Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks in New York City.
August 1900
Beginning of the Brainerd Elks 615 with 64 members being installed on August 23, 1900 at Gardner’s Hall ( where the Old Greyhound Bus Depot was located across from City Hall). A.J. Halstad was installed as the first Exalted Ruler.
July 1926
Construction began on the Elks Building located at 6th and Laurel Street at a cost of $25,000 for the land, $150,000 for the building and $15,000 for the furnishings.
April 1927
Dedication of the new building on April 23, 1927. Dr. J.A. Thabes, Sr. was the Exalted Ruler.
June 1931
Dr. A.K. Cohen became the State President of the Minnesota Elks Association.
April 1944
All mortgages, chattel loans, notes and claims on the Elks Building were paid. A burning ceremony was held on April 13, 1944.
November 1948
A three-day celebration was held for the completion of a remodeling project of the Brainerd Elks at a cost of $100,000. George O’Brien was the Exalted Ruler.
June 1951
Brainerd Elks host 3rd Minnesota State Elks Convention. Bill Van Essen was Exalted Ruler.
June 1952
Dr. M.H. Carlson was elected State President of the Minnesota Elks Association.
June 1953
Minnesota State Youth Camp has its beginning with the purchase of land and property on Pelican Lake. PER George O’Brien was named Chairman of the Board and Cal Nelson headed the Ways and Means Committee. PER Carl Erickson served the Order in setting up the legal structure of the camp board and the purchase of the property.
December 1955
The Youth Auction was started during the term of Exalted Ruler Obert Benson. The activity has been a major fundraiser to support the Youth Program of the Brainerd Elks. PER Bill Van Essen has served along with other Elks as it Chairperson since 1955.
June 1956
The Minnesota State Elks Youth Camp was opened for use with the formal dedication on July 28-29, 1956. The total acreage of the camp is 213 acres with 7000 feet of lakeshore. PER Obert Benson and PER Barney Holtkamp of Brainerd served as Chairman and Executive Secretary respectively. Exalted Ruler was M.R. (Bud) Burton.
November 1962
Brainerd Elks reach a membership of 1000. Everett Anderson was Exalted Ruler.
June 1967
PER Everett Anderson was named President of the Minnesota Elks Association.
October 1970
The 1st annual Hunter’s Stag is established with Don Sande as Exalted Ruler. Funds are used to support the growing Youth Activities and Community programs.
May 1971
The 1st Annual Fisherman’s Stag is added to make a trio of major fundraisers to support the Brainerd Elks benevolent programs.
June 1971
Brainerd Elks host 4th Minnesota Elks Association State Convention with Al Schlegel as Exalted Ruler.
March 1973
The Antler Room (located next to where the Coco Moon operates) opened on the ground floor below the Elks. Norm Arveson was Exalted Ruler.
April 1974
Membership reaches an all-time high of 1431 with John Langerud as Exalted Ruler.
February 1976
Brainerd officers win their 1st Minnesota State Ritual contest title. They represented Minnesota at the National Convention in Chicago in July 1976. They were to go on and win the state title for the next four years.
July 1980
Brainerd Elks sold the Baxter property near golf course for $105,000.
January 1982
The Elks Building at 6th and Laurel was sold to I & S Investments for $300,000.
March 1982
Land was purchased on South Sixth Street near the Holiday Inn (now the Red Roof Inn) for $65,000.
June 1983
PER Al Schlegel is elected as President of the Minnesota State Elks Association.
March 1984
Elks purchased property at 202 South 4th St. (where the new judicial center is located) for $300,000. James Runberg was Exalted Ruler.
May 1984
The Brainerd Elks moved with the help of many members to our new home. Ray Frazier was Exalted Ruler.
August 1985
August 8, 9 and 10th was the Grand Opening and Dedication Ceremony for the new Elks Lodge. On August 23 Brainerd Elks was 85 years young in service to the Brainerd area.
May 1996
Four members of the Brainerd Elks purchased the note on the Brainerd Elks and worked out a lease agreement to allow the Elks in the building.
August 2000
Brainerd Elks Lodge 615 celebrated its 100th Birthday on August 23, 2000.
1999
Eva Widder awarded an Elks National Foundation Most Valuable Student scholarship.
September 2000
Grand Exalted Ruler Dwayne Rumney visited the Brainerd Lodge on September 18, 2000 to mark the centennial year of the Brainerd Elks.
2002
Amy Kittleson and Rachel Koehn receive Elks National Foundation Legacy Awards.
June 2005
Brainerd Elks moved to a temporary location at Sheps on 6th after 21 years at the 202 So. 4th location.
September 2005
The Brainerd Elks move to their new and current home at 215 So. 9th St. Exalted Ruler was Kathy Pietz.
2008
Ashley Drake awarded an Emergency Educational Grant from the Elks National Foundation.
2009
Ryan Gall awarded a Most Valuable Student scholarship from the Elks National Foundation.
2009
Brainerd Lakes Chapter of Healthy Brains for Children receives charter fee from Brainerd Elks Lodge.
2009-2010
“Just One More” is the theme for PER Herman Wisneski’s tenure as president of Minnesota State Elks Association.
2009-2010
James Van Duyn receives Grand Lodge Minnesota State Association Golden Mike Program and Achievement award for public relations distinguished performance.
2009
PER Herman Wisneski receives Boy Scouts of America Marvin M. Lewis Award at National Convention. (Dispatch article, August 5, 2009)
May 2010
Pillager 6th grader Kailynn Heide wins Elks’ National Americanism Essay contest in Division I (5-6th grades). (Dispatch article May 10, 2010)
2012
Erica (Jade) Krueger receives a Most Valuable Student scholarship from the Elks National Foundation.
April 2015
Kelsi Martini, Pequot Lakes, captured 4th place at the Elks National Hoop Shoot in the 8-9-year-old girls division. She swished 21 of 25 free throws to tie for third place. In a 4-way shoot off she sank 5/5, 5/5 and 2/5 for her finish.
April 2015
Gabriella Haire receives an Elks National Foundation Most Valuable Student $20,000 scholarship and Jordan Kleist a $4,000 ENF MVS award. Both go on to participate in the Elks Service Trips “Learn. Serve. Connect.”
2016
Angela Lyscio is awarded an Emergency Educational Grant from the Elks National Foundation.
April 2017
Jessica Ernster awarded a Legacy scholarship from the Elks National Foundation.
March 2018
Mark M Munson’s School of Rock Open Mic venue “Youth on Stage” debuts with musicians, singers and spoken word performers from 5th grade to 25 years.
Compiled by PER Doug Johnson and James Van Duyn, Public Relations and Marketing from the official publication of the Brainerd Elks, The Elkorama and Elks.org website.
Founding of the National Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks in New York City.
August 1900
Beginning of the Brainerd Elks 615 with 64 members being installed on August 23, 1900 at Gardner’s Hall ( where the Old Greyhound Bus Depot was located across from City Hall). A.J. Halstad was installed as the first Exalted Ruler.
July 1926
Construction began on the Elks Building located at 6th and Laurel Street at a cost of $25,000 for the land, $150,000 for the building and $15,000 for the furnishings.
April 1927
Dedication of the new building on April 23, 1927. Dr. J.A. Thabes, Sr. was the Exalted Ruler.
June 1931
Dr. A.K. Cohen became the State President of the Minnesota Elks Association.
April 1944
All mortgages, chattel loans, notes and claims on the Elks Building were paid. A burning ceremony was held on April 13, 1944.
November 1948
A three-day celebration was held for the completion of a remodeling project of the Brainerd Elks at a cost of $100,000. George O’Brien was the Exalted Ruler.
June 1951
Brainerd Elks host 3rd Minnesota State Elks Convention. Bill Van Essen was Exalted Ruler.
June 1952
Dr. M.H. Carlson was elected State President of the Minnesota Elks Association.
June 1953
Minnesota State Youth Camp has its beginning with the purchase of land and property on Pelican Lake. PER George O’Brien was named Chairman of the Board and Cal Nelson headed the Ways and Means Committee. PER Carl Erickson served the Order in setting up the legal structure of the camp board and the purchase of the property.
December 1955
The Youth Auction was started during the term of Exalted Ruler Obert Benson. The activity has been a major fundraiser to support the Youth Program of the Brainerd Elks. PER Bill Van Essen has served along with other Elks as it Chairperson since 1955.
June 1956
The Minnesota State Elks Youth Camp was opened for use with the formal dedication on July 28-29, 1956. The total acreage of the camp is 213 acres with 7000 feet of lakeshore. PER Obert Benson and PER Barney Holtkamp of Brainerd served as Chairman and Executive Secretary respectively. Exalted Ruler was M.R. (Bud) Burton.
November 1962
Brainerd Elks reach a membership of 1000. Everett Anderson was Exalted Ruler.
June 1967
PER Everett Anderson was named President of the Minnesota Elks Association.
October 1970
The 1st annual Hunter’s Stag is established with Don Sande as Exalted Ruler. Funds are used to support the growing Youth Activities and Community programs.
May 1971
The 1st Annual Fisherman’s Stag is added to make a trio of major fundraisers to support the Brainerd Elks benevolent programs.
June 1971
Brainerd Elks host 4th Minnesota Elks Association State Convention with Al Schlegel as Exalted Ruler.
March 1973
The Antler Room (located next to where the Coco Moon operates) opened on the ground floor below the Elks. Norm Arveson was Exalted Ruler.
April 1974
Membership reaches an all-time high of 1431 with John Langerud as Exalted Ruler.
February 1976
Brainerd officers win their 1st Minnesota State Ritual contest title. They represented Minnesota at the National Convention in Chicago in July 1976. They were to go on and win the state title for the next four years.
July 1980
Brainerd Elks sold the Baxter property near golf course for $105,000.
January 1982
The Elks Building at 6th and Laurel was sold to I & S Investments for $300,000.
March 1982
Land was purchased on South Sixth Street near the Holiday Inn (now the Red Roof Inn) for $65,000.
June 1983
PER Al Schlegel is elected as President of the Minnesota State Elks Association.
March 1984
Elks purchased property at 202 South 4th St. (where the new judicial center is located) for $300,000. James Runberg was Exalted Ruler.
May 1984
The Brainerd Elks moved with the help of many members to our new home. Ray Frazier was Exalted Ruler.
August 1985
August 8, 9 and 10th was the Grand Opening and Dedication Ceremony for the new Elks Lodge. On August 23 Brainerd Elks was 85 years young in service to the Brainerd area.
May 1996
Four members of the Brainerd Elks purchased the note on the Brainerd Elks and worked out a lease agreement to allow the Elks in the building.
August 2000
Brainerd Elks Lodge 615 celebrated its 100th Birthday on August 23, 2000.
1999
Eva Widder awarded an Elks National Foundation Most Valuable Student scholarship.
September 2000
Grand Exalted Ruler Dwayne Rumney visited the Brainerd Lodge on September 18, 2000 to mark the centennial year of the Brainerd Elks.
2002
Amy Kittleson and Rachel Koehn receive Elks National Foundation Legacy Awards.
June 2005
Brainerd Elks moved to a temporary location at Sheps on 6th after 21 years at the 202 So. 4th location.
September 2005
The Brainerd Elks move to their new and current home at 215 So. 9th St. Exalted Ruler was Kathy Pietz.
2008
Ashley Drake awarded an Emergency Educational Grant from the Elks National Foundation.
2009
Ryan Gall awarded a Most Valuable Student scholarship from the Elks National Foundation.
2009
Brainerd Lakes Chapter of Healthy Brains for Children receives charter fee from Brainerd Elks Lodge.
2009-2010
“Just One More” is the theme for PER Herman Wisneski’s tenure as president of Minnesota State Elks Association.
2009-2010
James Van Duyn receives Grand Lodge Minnesota State Association Golden Mike Program and Achievement award for public relations distinguished performance.
2009
PER Herman Wisneski receives Boy Scouts of America Marvin M. Lewis Award at National Convention. (Dispatch article, August 5, 2009)
May 2010
Pillager 6th grader Kailynn Heide wins Elks’ National Americanism Essay contest in Division I (5-6th grades). (Dispatch article May 10, 2010)
2012
Erica (Jade) Krueger receives a Most Valuable Student scholarship from the Elks National Foundation.
April 2015
Kelsi Martini, Pequot Lakes, captured 4th place at the Elks National Hoop Shoot in the 8-9-year-old girls division. She swished 21 of 25 free throws to tie for third place. In a 4-way shoot off she sank 5/5, 5/5 and 2/5 for her finish.
April 2015
Gabriella Haire receives an Elks National Foundation Most Valuable Student $20,000 scholarship and Jordan Kleist a $4,000 ENF MVS award. Both go on to participate in the Elks Service Trips “Learn. Serve. Connect.”
2016
Angela Lyscio is awarded an Emergency Educational Grant from the Elks National Foundation.
April 2017
Jessica Ernster awarded a Legacy scholarship from the Elks National Foundation.
March 2018
Mark M Munson’s School of Rock Open Mic venue “Youth on Stage” debuts with musicians, singers and spoken word performers from 5th grade to 25 years.
Compiled by PER Doug Johnson and James Van Duyn, Public Relations and Marketing from the official publication of the Brainerd Elks, The Elkorama and Elks.org website.
