Eureka Lodge

Photo: Eureka Lodge members pose with members of the Excelsior Band. 

    The Eureka Lodge was founded as the first African American Elks club on June 5, 1897 by New York businessman Benjamin F. Howard. He wanted to inspire social, civic, fraternal and religious development in its member and the public. Racism almost halted the beginning of the club as the Chicago based white national organization refused to allow the "Negro" Elk the right to wear their official pin and insignia. After a tenuous ten year legal battle the Eureka members were allowed to wear the official pin and insignia. The Eureka members also went on to establish themselves further by calling themselves the "Improved Benevolent Order of the Elks."

    Under Eureka's charter of 1913 its purposes are to "promote social discourse among its members, its fraternal and beneficial and for a fixed sum for joining and the payment of monthly dues, the Lodge aids the sick and buries it dead." By aiding the sick and burying the dead, as well as promoting social intercourse the Eureka Lodge was providing very valuable services to Norfolk's 43,392 African Americans. Few major insurance companies were willing to provide insurance for African Americans. The Eureka Lodge also provided death benefits to the surviving spouse and children of their members. In addition to working with the sick and elderly, the Eureka Lodge members also took time out to spend with the youth in the community. Charity also extended to the early beginnings of the Virginia State Unit of Norfolk State University. Lodge members allowed the university to use three rooms in the back of its headquarters as classrooms. The Lodge would go on to make several donations to the university.  During its heyday of the 1920's the Eureka Lodge boasted over one thousand members. The Lodge would also have membership drives during the mid twenties that recruited over one hundred members per week.         

Photo: Courtesy of Kirn Memorial Library Norfolk, Virginia 1936

     This was the headquarters where the Virginia State Unit of Norfolk State University began. Three classrooms were provided as classrooms in the headquarters of the Eureka  Lodge.