NUTLEY LODGE NO. 1290, B.P.O. ELKS

EVERETT ZABRISKIE

Preamble to Constitution

TO inculcate the principles of Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love and Fidelity; to promote the welfare and enhance the happiness of its members; to quicken the spirit of American patriotism; to cultivate good fellowship and to perpetuate itself as a fraternal organization.

Nutley Lodge No. 1290, B.P.O. Elks was instituted October 12, 1912, upon a dispensation granted by the Grand Lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks on August 17, 1912, to forty-four (44) Charter Members to form a subordinate Lodge of the Order. A Charter was granted on July 9, 1913, by Grand Lodge.

Since the Lodge was instituted, more than 550 Nutley residents have joined its membership, many of them prominent citizens of the community.

Most important has been our effort to help crippled children in which we have been engaged since 1927, when, with information obtained from churches, schools and other sources, with the aid of a nurse engaged for the purpose, we went to work on the case histories of seventy crippled children in Nutley. Assisted by local doctors and outstanding specialists, with cooperation of hospitals in New Jersey and New York, through the years we have helped many crippled children.

Recently our Crippled Children’s Committee purchased an iron lung and presented it to the Town of Nutley.

Christmas baskets are distributed to the needy each year by the Lodge and our Ladies’ Auxiliary distributes baskets at Thanksgiving time. Assistance is rendered in other forms at all times to worthy causes.

The observance of Flag Day is mandatory in our Order and we hold services each year to which all organizations and the public are invited to participate. Navy Day is also publicly observed.

Nutley Lodge of Elks had an active part in the war efforts of the Town of Nutley. In World War I one of our members, Raymond Blum, gave his life on the field of battle. In World War II fifty of our members served in the armed forces of the U.S.A.

In the Home Defense activities many of our members served in the various units of Air Raid Wardens, Police Reserves, Fire Reserves, etc., and our Lodge sponsored patriotic, training and enlistment programs.

We supported our Grand Lodge, our State Elks Association, the Red Cross and others in drives for funds to help in the war effort. We invested Lodge funds in United States War Bonds.

Framed citations on the walls of our Elks Lodge testify to some of our contributions during the war.

We continue in the work of assisting returned veterans in need of assistance and to further the present enlistment appeal of the United States of America.

Nutley Lodge of Elks held meetings and had clubrooms in the Masonic Hall building from the date of Institution, October 12, 1912, until September 30, 1938.

The Cornerstone of the present Elks Home at 242 Chestnut Street was laid on July 24, 1938, and meetings of the Lodge have been held there since October 1, 1938.

An addition to the Home was completed October, 1959.

The present officers are: Diron Avedisian, Exalted Ruler; John Kovack, Leading Knight; H. David Stamm, Loyal Knight; Ralph Kimball, Lecturing Knight; Leonard Ciccone, Esquire; Lester Hrbek, Chaplain; Stanley Novaco, Secretary; Robert Richardson, Inner Guard; George Boudreau, Tiler; Clarence Iliffe, Organist; Andrew Hutch, Treasurer.

Trustees are: Dr. Robert Citrino, Chairman; Matthew J. Coyle, Louis Alberts, Everett Zabriskie and Dr. Joseph Brown.

Past Grand Exalted Ruler: William J. Jernick.