How the Elks BeganThe moving spirit for the Elks was an Englishman names Charles Algernon Sidney Vivian. Born October 22, 1842, this son of a clergyman was a successful comic singer and dancer in the music halls of London. In November 1867, Vivian arrived in New York City to try his fortune.

Other actors and entertainers soon gravitated toward his magnetic personality. With everything closed on Sunday because of New York City’s Blue Laws, a group of theatrical people began meeting for their own amusement under Vivian’s leadership. A loose organization was formed to make sure the larder was well-stocked for these gatherings. They called themselves the Jolly Corks, a name derived from a trick introduced by Vivian in which the uninitiated purchased a round of refreshments.

When one of their members died shortly before Christmas in 1867, leaving his wife and children destitute, the Jolly Corks decided that in addition to good fellowship, they needed a more enduring organization to serve those in need.

On February 16, 1868, they established the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and elected Vivian to head it. Its social activities and benefit performances increased the popularity of the new Order. Membership grew rapidly. Elks traveling to other cities spread the work of the Brotherhood of Elks. Soon there were requests for Elks Lodges in cities other than New York. In response to these appeals, asked the New York State legislature for a charter authorizing the establishment of a Grand Lodge with the power to establish local Lodges anywhere in the United States. When the Grand Lodge Charter was issued, the founders then received the first local charter as New York Lodge No. 1 on March 10, 1871.

During World War I, the Elks funded and equipped the first two field hospitals in France and bullet a 72-room community house in Camp Sherman, Ohio, and a 700-bed rehabilitation hospital in Boston, which they turned over to the War Department. They also raised money for the Salvation Army’s front-line canteens.

Their loans to 40,000 returning veterans for college, rehabilitation and vocational education were the precursor of the GI Bill.

When World War II broke out, the Elks were the only civilian organization asked to help recruit construction workers for the military, a task that was complete in three months ahead of schedule. The Elks also contributed more than half a million books to the Merchant Marines so that their mend would have reading material on board ship.

Our story is long, our work is humbled; our history is proud. As long as there are those who need our help, the Elks will be there to give aid and comfort.

Elks Care …. Elks Share

Who are the Elks?Elks Lodges bring so much more to their communities than just a building, golf course or pool. They are places where neighbors come together, families share meals, and children grow up. Elks invest in their communities through programs that help children grow up healthy and drug-free, by undertaking projects that address unmet need, and by honoring the service and sacrifice of our veterans. Elks are community. No matter where you go in the country, an Elks Lodge is right around the corner. With more than 850,000 members and 2,000 Lodges nationwide, Elks are providing charitable services that help build stronger communities. Join us in service to your community.

The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the West Virginia Elks

AssociationThe Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is one of the oldest and largest fraternal organizations in the country. They are committed to the ideals of charity and patriotism. The Order of Elks consists of American citizens who love their country, and strive to preserve its cherished institutions; who love humanity and seek to enhance our lives.Elks believe in the principles of Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love, and Fidelity, and in God. These principles are applied to promoting the welfare of our communities, to quicken the spirit of patriotism, to cultivate good fellowship, and provide for our government.Elks provide a wide field of deeds and services involving a great diversity of activities and programs, which are influenced only by local conditions and needs. This network of services is profoundly changing, for the better, the lives of millions of people.The West Virginia Elks Association is made of 19 Lodges located throughout the state. There are more than 8,500 West Virginia Elks and their helpers volunteered over 42,000 hours for youth programs, veterans and helping the less fortunate.

Wheeling Elks

Lodge No. 28

P. O. Box 68494706 Jacob Street

Wheeling, WV 26003

304-233-2900 (L)304-215-8579 (S)

Wheeling Elks Lodge No. 28

Brief History of Wheeling Lodge No. 28

In December 1884, Chester Arthur was President of the United States. The State of West Virginia had been formed only 21 years earlier. The Order of Elks had been founded just 16 years earlier.During the morning of December 7, 1884, some 25 citizens of Wheeling made their way to the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Depot to welcome a group of Officers and Members of Pittsburgh Lodge No. 11, B. P. O. Elks, who had been assigned the task by the Grand Lodge of conferring the degree and presenting the Charter to the newly formed Lodge No. 28 of Wheeling. Dispensation to organize Wheeling Lodge had been granted in the early part of June 1884 by Grand Exalted Ruler Edward A. Perry.Thus began the saga of West Virginia's oldest Elks Lodge, a fraternal organization which has become woven into the very fabric of the community, which gave our Order two of its finest Grand Exalted Rulers (National Presidents). As each new Lodge is formed, they are assigned numbers in rotation, Wheeling being the 28th Lodge. At that time, Wheeling Lodge was the only one between Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. A Charter was granted Wheeling Lodge on December 13, 1885 and the Lodge was incorporated under the laws of West Virginia in 1890.Grand Lodge records indicate that our Lodge started with 16 Members. At our peak, Membership reached 2,188 and our current Membership is close to 300.Throughout the years we have been recognized as a civic minded, patriotic organization by the Elks Grand Lodge, the West Virginia Elks Association, and local organizations.

Activities and Projects

YouthScholarships: We provide the public and private high schools of both Marshall and Ohio Counties with the Most Valuable Student Scholarship Applications that are on line and inform our Members about the Legacy Scholarship Applications and the Emergency Educational Grants (only for Members' children and grandchildren).

Hoop Shoot: We participate in all of the schools of Marshall and Ohio Counties in the largest co-educational sports program in America.

Soccer Shoot: We participate in one of the newest sporting events with a soccer shoot out with the winners moving onto the district, state, and regional contests.

Teenager, Junior, & Vocational Teenager of the Month and/or Year: We select students from the schools of Marshall and Ohio Counties based on grades and community involvement.

Athletes of the Month: We select student Athletes, one from each county, Marshall and Ohio, during the school year.

Junior Golf Tournaments: We hold this tournament with the winners being awarded a trophy and a picnic for all.

Dictionary Project: We provide dictionaries to several third grades in Marshall and Ohio Counties. We also arrange with several other community organizations to make sure that all third graders in both counties are provided with dictionaries.

Patriotic and Veteran

Adopt-A-Veteran: We have adopted several local veterans and either visit with them, send them holiday cards, and/or transport them to the doctor appointments and shopping.

Americanism Essay Contest: We ask every school in both counties to have their students, 5-6 & 7-8 grade students to submit essays.

History of the Flag Presentations: We perform a History of the Flag Service for local schools and organizations throughout the Upper Ohio Valley.

Flag Folding: We have a presentation to show individuals and students the correct way to fold the American Flag.

Flag Day Services: Every Lodge has a Flag Day Service on June 14th of each year. The Elks was the force behind in making this day a National Holiday.

VA Hospital Visits: We collect items and deliver them to local VA Hospitals.

Memorial and Veteran's Day: We participate in community services for these holidays.

Wreaths Across America: We have joined with this program for the past several years and place wreaths at the National Cemetery located in Washington County near Canonsburg, PA.

CommunityAdopt-A-Playground: We just recently started participating in this by updating and painting Pulaski Field Playground with the City of Wheeling.

Elks and Scouting: We have been active in assisting establishing a local cub scout troop in South Wheeling and we also recognize all Eagle Scouts (Boy Scouts) and Silver and Gold Award Winners (Girl Scouts) from Marshall and Ohio Counties at our annual Youth Banquet.

Disabled Children Camps: We collect items for the camp as well as providing funds for the two camps that are run by the West Virginia Elks Association. These camps are located in Bluefield, West Virginia.

Drug Awareness: We provide items and information for the education of our young people and their families. The State Association has two Drug Awareness trailers that can be borrowed.

Christmas Food Basket Project: Since 1959 our Lodge has provided food baskets to the needy of our community. We do this usually the weekend before Christmas and it is done by donations from the Members of Wheeling Lodge.

Just For Kids Program: We, with the assistance of the Greater Wheeling Soup Kitchen, provide a dinner for the children of the Wheeling area on Wednesday evenings, 4-6 P. M., during the school year. We also arrange for other groups to be there for educational activities and for people to assist any of the students with their homework

Backpack Program: We assist with supplying, packing, and distributing take home weekend meals for the students of a local grade schools; Center McMechen & Ritchie.

Drug Free Clubs of America: We assisted in the establishment and continue operation of the Marshall and Ohio County Clubs in the local middle and high schools.

Social Events for Members,their families, and friends

As Elks not all of our activities benefit the community. We do adhere to the expression that “all work and no play makes a dull little boy.” We do have events that are geared for our Members, their families, and friends.We have picnics, dances, steak fries, dinners, holiday themed parties (St. Patrick's Day, Christmas, and Oktoberfest), and sporting themed parties. We have fun! We use to have a bowling league and a softball team and with some interest from current and future Members we may be able to start them again.We attend district meetings, state conventions, and national conventions. We also at times make visits to other Lodges in West Virginia and surrounding states.On a sadder note, our obligation to our Members does not stop when their time on this earth has been called by our Creator. We hold funeral services for the deceased Member, if asked by the family, and on the first Sunday of each December we hold a Memorial Service for all of our Absent Members.