A History of the B. P. O. of Elks in Bloomington Bloomington (Monroe County, Indiana) Herald Telephone, February 24, 1951, p. 11. NOTE: The item below was abbreviated from the original as noted by the ellipsis. It was written by Bennett P. Reed and is a review of a "1903 Bloomington Elks entertainment program and a short sketch upon founding of the local lodge." The item is accompanied by a photograph of the club parlors. .In the later part of the 1890's, when gaiety marked the time, Bloomington was viewed as virgin territory for organizing a lodge of (Benevolent and Protective Order of) Elks. Several men of the town became interested in the idea.Before long an application for a charter was made. Twenty-six charter members.applied. The charter roll of the Bloomington lodge carries the names of : Moses Kahn, Joseph E. Henley, Dr. J. E. Harris, C. J. Axtell, H. H. Jefferson, W. A. Coons, A. J. Hays, Chester M. Spicely, G. W. Henley, W. C. Lundley, E. B. McGee, C. A. Barnhill, Otto Rott, A. S. Harn, Dr. C. T. Weir, John Dressell, W. A. Brissenden, W. A. Rice, Calvin R. Worrall, H. P. Tourner, J. L. Nichols, Phillip Kerr, E. H. Waller. H. D. Orchard, E. E. Jackson and Dr. C. E. Harris. .Date of instituting the Bloomington lodge was June 16, 1898. Number assigned was 446. .Bloomington now had a lodge of Elks duly and truly organized. Bought, was a home at 205 South Walnut Street where the lodge was housed until moving to the new home on North Walnut.