Aurora Elks Lodge No. 705 - Aurora, Illinois
Posted by: BruceS
N 41° 45.397 W 088° 19.025
16T E 390506 N 4623592
Mayan Revival styled club building in Aurora, Illinois.
Waymark Code: WM1AHG
Location: Illinois, United States
Date Posted: 03/16/2007
Views: 21
"Easily
one of the most unusual building in Aurora, this 1926 structure designed by the
firm of Zimmerman, Saxe & Zimmerman, is one of the few examples of May Revival
design. The architects altered their original, more traditional design when they
were inspired by the recently discovered Mayan temples in Central America. Use
of the Mayan design motifs in friezes, similar to their use on Mayan temples,
became a short-lived trend in architectural design. The irregular bricks
referred to as "clinker bricks", and succeed in giving the exterior a unique
look. The local Elks chapter #705 formed in 1901. This building was their second
home, dedicated on November 17, 1926. The local chapter had a membership of 700
when 77 South Stolp was built, and in the 1930s-1950s membership reached 1500,
with a waiting list. The Elks operated a 40-room hotel in the building, which
included bowling lanes in the basement." ~ information plaque outside building