Syracuse Lodge #1104

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This Lodge was organized Sunday, June 9, 1909 at 2:00 p.m. in old Freeman Hall, corner East Jefferson and S. Townsend Streets, diagonally across the streets from 417 South Townsend St. The Lodge was set up by District Deputy Williams Jackson of Rochester, assisted by members of Flower City Lodge No. 91. It was organized and known for many years as SALT CITY LODGE NO. 166.

Bro. Green Tibbs was the Lodge’s first delegate to a Grand Lodge convention. This was held in 1909 in Detroit, Michigan with the Hon. Atkins, Grand Exalted Ruler presiding. Bro. Tibbs continued to represent the Lodge for 17 consecutive Grand Lodge Conventions at his own expense.

The Lodge held its first Memorial Service in Bethany Baptist Church in December, 1909. Its First Grand Ball was held in old Freeman Hall in 1909 and annually in various halls throughout the city.

All of the original records and paraphernalia of the Lodge were lost in a fire which destroyed old Freeman Hall in 1914. As shocking and disappointing as this incident was, the spirits of our Brothers were unshaken. They put forth special efforts and in a short while had replaced all of the physical property. The records were of course, irreplaceable, and but for the memory of a secretary without peer, the late bro. Henri L. Smith and P.E.R. Green Tibbs, the last remaining Charter Member, the greater part of even this modest chronicle of the Lodge’s history would have been lost to posterity.

The first “Elks Rest” or Home was secured in 1930-31 under the leadership of Exalted Ruler Frank Ellis. The location was at 329 East Washington St. in the very block where the new State Office Building now stands.

The dedicatory address at the opening of this home was delivered by Biro. J. Luther Sylvahn, Grand Traveling Deputy of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Canada, who at the time was a member of Chadakoin Lodge No. 718 of Jamestown, N. Y.

The affair was an eventful one and reflected great credit upon the leadership of Exalted Ruler Ellis and his staff of officers.