Property Record
33 SHEBOYGAN ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | BPOE, Lodge No. 57 |
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| Other Name: | Elks Lodge No. 57 |
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| Reference Number: | 55150 |
| Location (Address): | 33 SHEBOYGAN ST |
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| County: | Fond du Lac |
| City: | Fond du Lac |
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| Year Built: | 1904 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 2010 |
| Historic Use: | meeting hall |
| Architectural Style: | Queen Anne |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | Adolph Werner |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| Additional Information: | A site file exists for this property. It contains additional information such as correspondence, newspaper clippings, or historical information. It is a public record and may be viewed in person at the Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Historic Preservation-Public History. 1991: This three-story Queen Anne style hall has a steeply-pitched hip and gable roof with many projecting gables and dormers. A three-story round corner tower projects from the southwest corner of the building. The building is constructed of red brick with a shingled third story. The veranda dominates the building as it covers the entire front and almost the entire west wall of the building. It features brick piers, a lattice-like apron, grouped round columns, and a shingled balustrade. Above the veranda on the second story are two porches, one on the front wall and one on the west wall. They feature flat overhangs supported by large round columns. Windows are large sashes, many with transoms and are decorated with prominent stone lintels and sills. The large and rambling plan of the building, with the projecting gables and corner tower, along with the sweeping veranda, are all well-executed elements of the style. The fine manner in which the building was constructed suggests the importance and style the Elks Club wished to portray to the public when the building was constructed. This was the home of the Fond du Lac Elks Club since 1904. The Elks Club is one of the two most prominent fraternal groups in Fond du Lac. This building is historically significant because of its long association with the Elks Club in Fond du Lac. Social and Fraternal groups were important in the historic fabric of society. In the past, and to some extent, the present, one's standing in social and fraternal groups was a means to achieve in business in a community. Usually the most significant historic movers and shakers of a community belonged to one of many fraternal groups. Because of this, many business and political decisions were linked with members of these groups. 2010-2011 Intensive Survey Report Info: Largely Queen Anne in style, this two-and-one-half-story building is anchored by a round corner tower with a conical roof. A wraparound porch extends across the building's primary (south) elevation and continues along the majority of the west facade. Porch supports are comprised of either paired or larger groupings of Doric columns resting on rectangular brick piers, while the porch wall has been re-sheathed with wooden shingles. A smaller second-floor porch is evident along the south and west facades and supports along this level are larger, Doric examples; large gabled roof dormers covered with wooden shingles are located above the two second-level porches, while a third dormer is located along the east roofline. Windows throughout the building are largely comprised of two-over-two-light, double-hung sashes, with some having transoms. All windows are topped with a wide stone lintel and underscored by a much narrower sill. A side entrance with a handicapped ramp is located along the building's east elevation, along with a one-story, flat-roofed wing near the rear. Historic photos and drawings indicate that the porch railing has been altered by the application of wooden shingles and original gabled peak windows have also been covered with wooden shingles. The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE), Lodge #57, was organized in Fond du Lac on 27 November 1886, initiating forty-four members. Just over two weeks later, on 12 December 1886, they received their charter from the Grand Lodge. After first meeting at the Odd Fellows Hall, they moved on 2 May 1887 to a portion of the Amory Block on Main Street. Over four years later, they leased a portion of Fond du Lac Council 515 National Union's building on Forest Avenue. Although the erection of their own lodge building was discussed earlier, it was not until 26 July 1902 that a formal five-man committee was appointed for its study. Although a total of six architects competed for the design, Fond du Lac architect Adolph D. Werner was chosen as architect. The building's cornerstone was laid on 10 August 1903, the membership began utilizing the structure on 19 April 1904 and dedication occurred on 26 May 1904. The total cost of the structure was estimated at $40,000. According to the club, the Fond du Lac lodge, which still owns and occupies the building, "is the healthiest in the State and the number of new members initiated are about fifty or more each year." The lodge remains a large and imposing Queen Anne-inspired structure. Although Queen Anne elements are indeed evident, they are somewhat restrained in their appearance and the building, as a while, perhaps better represents the transition from the Queen Anne to Colonial Revival styling. No matter the case, alterations to the building, including the application of wooden shingles to the porch balustrade, as well as the covering over of original windows within the gabled roof dormers, have affected the historic integrity of the building. However, the building does stand as a testament to the BPOE, a long-standing fraternal organization in the community which continues to utilize the clubhouse. Identified as the oldest continuously chartered Elks Lodge in the State of Wisconsin, the Fond du Lac Elks Lodge stands as a testament to the popularity of fraternal organizations and is significant, therefore. |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) Fond du Lac City Directories. (B) Sanborn-Perris Maps - Fond du Lac. (C) Fond du Lac Tax Rolls. (D) Michael D. Lempinen and Les Ross, Intensive Survey Report, Fond du Lac: City of Fond du Lac and Sundberg, Carlson and Associates, Inc., 1989. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |