Elks’ Heritage Display Unveils Historical Replicas Saturday

by Jonathan Weaver

Locked in a vault under layers of plaster, Tyler Woodside and Josh Julius found replicas of Armstrong County history that many have forgotten.

The two Kittanning Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (B.P.O.E.) Lodge #203 members found several large picture murals and Civil War artifacts displaying Kittanning’s history within the North Water Street lodge earlier this year.

“We start digging here-and-there, and then you find more-and-more – it became (known) to both of us that something needed to be done here to preserve the things that are here,” Julius said. “We did it kinda independently – (Woodside) talked to one officer and I talked to another (because) neither of us knew we were thinking about the same thing at the same time.”

The result was the formation of the Elks Historical Committee three months ago.

“(Then-Exalted Ruler Joe Avi) designated a couple of us to do this because all the stuff in the Lodge is just going to get ruined if we don’t take care of it,” Woodside said.

The committee organization was the last piece of business by Avi while Exalted Ruler. While Avi is still a member, Julius said current Exalted Ruler Dan Gallagher is also very supportive of the committee’s efforts.

As part of their awareness goal, the artifacts and photographs will be on display in the lodge Saturday during this weekend’s Fort Armstrong Folk Festival.

“That’s what the Elks are all about – we’re a benevolent organization, we donate a lot of money to local groups and the Elks National Foundation is huge. The local lodges are supposed to be all about community, and a lot of lodges have lost that over the years, but we’re trying to bring that back in Kittanning,” Woodside said.

Woodside said the murals were produced by Altwater and Brother in Pittsburgh in 1948 and have been in storage for at least 40 years. The murals used to hang in the lodge’s Grill Room, but everything was taken down after a fire in February 1970 caused members to renovate the building.

The murals – which depict Kittanning business during the Industrial Revolution and community role in the Civil War, among others – are unique after the Altwater factory burned in a fire. Woodside and Julius haven’t found many similar prints so far.

“We find things and say, ‘I can’t believe this stuff is just sitting here,’” Julius said.

The longest mural measures nearly 20 feet long by four feet wide.

Armstrong County Commissioners have already inquired about displaying a mural of the former courthouse.

Woodside hopes local residents will enjoy the murals and artifacts – including war rifles, Elks memorabilia and more than 500 Native American arrowheads – and consider adding to the collection.

“We’re trying to collect more things for different displays – we want to eventually be a running museum,” Woodside said. “Armstrong County and Kittanning have a rich history so we’re just trying to preserve it because there’s so much history here people don’t realize.”

No timetable has been determined for the designation, as much of the curation will be through grants and donations.

Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum Curator Michael Kraus of Pittsburgh has seen some of the weaponry and estimated its value.

More than 20 Civil War rifles and swords found were determined to be donated by Dr. Charles Jessop – one of the original Lodge founders and founder of “Kittanning Hospital – now ACMH. They are on-display this weekend in honor of the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg.

Lodge #203 formed in 1891.

All artifacts will be shown on the second floor from 1-3 and 6-9PM.