CEDAR HILL: Community gathering spot gets face lift
Elks Lodge No. 2678 to hold grand reopening event Sept. 6
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| Andrew Jansen Photo Members of the building committee at the Cedar Hill Elks Lodge 2678 who helped remodel the lodge are, from left, Penny Scaggs, Selena Lambrich, Barb Knott, Joe Knott, Kelly Hensen and John Devous. |
That would be the Cedar Hill Elks Lodge No. 2678, which has undergone major remodeling this year.
"It's important for wedding receptions, baby showers, even indoor flea markets," said Kelly Hensen, lodge exalted ruler. "We've had auctions in here, all kinds of things."People may not recognize the old place, at least on the inside, said Ken Thebeau, the lodge's leading knight.
"It was a pretty big project," Thebeau said. "I don't think the hall has ever been remodeled.
"They redid the floor and redid the bar and built a new meeting room. There's all new drywall and painting and trim. We're not quite finished with the bar, yet, but it's getting there."
Many lodge members contributed sweat equity to complete the project, but it still took a great deal of money. The lodge is located at 8430 Industrial Drive in Cedar Hill.
"It cost in the neighborhood of $50,000 to renovate," Thebeau said. "We just felt it was time. We had the funds and the volunteers. The building has been here about 25 years.
"A lot of people volunteered their time to do demolition and the actual work, dry walling and painting. We had a member volunteer to install all the lighting."
Thebeau said the hall, which can accommodate up to 268 people, is in use on a steady basis.
"Anybody can rent the hall," he said. "You don't have to be a member to rent the hall for your event. We rent the hall out for wedding receptions, birthday parties and benefits.
"Our lodge has our own events, like Pork Chop Night with karaoke on the third Friday of the month. We also have meat shoots, where we meet inside and shoot outside. They start in October. It starts at noon every Saturday from October to April, usually."
A special event is slated for Saturday, Sept. 6, when Cedar Hill Elks Lodge No. 2678 members have planned a grand reopening of the facility. The festivities will run from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m.
The event will include music, raffles, games and barbecue. Funds raised by various activities and concessions sold at the event are targeted for the lodge's annual Christmas basket program for the needy.
"The music and entertainment is going to be free," Thebeau said. "There will be games for kids and adults."
"It will be for the whole community," Hensen added. "We're having kids' games, like a duck pond. We'll have barbecue."
The event also will be a good time to find out what the Elks organization has to offer, the men said.
"It's just a day of fun and to get the people of the community to see what's been done and what's available to them," Hensen said.
For more information, call the lodge at 636-285-3074.
CEDAR HILL ELKS LODGE GRAND REOPENING
WHAT: A day of music, fun, games and food at Cedar Hill Elks Lodge No. 2678.
WHEN: 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 6.
WHERE: Cedar Hill Elks Lodge, 8430 Industrical Drive, Cedar Hill.
