Elks Lodge # 649 - St. Augustine, FL
N 29° 53.221 W 081° 18.791
17R E 469759 N 3306307
Fountain of Youth Lodge No. 649, also known as Elks Rest, was constructed in 1958. It served as a training and strategy center for the St. Augustine civil rights movements during the 1960s.
Waymark Code: WMAYXM
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 03/13/2011
Views: 7
An historical marker in front of the lodge reads as follows:
ELKS REST
100 Washington Street
— Lincolnville —
FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH LODGE No. 649. Benevolent Protective Order Of Elks Of The World and PRIDE OF FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH TEMPLE No. 413. Completed in November 1958.
This Lodge, called ELKS REST, was at the early center of political and civil life of Lincolnville, providing housing for political rallies and cultural events.
During the 1960s, IT SERVED AS DAYTIME STRATEGY, TRAINING AND OPERATIONS CENTER OF THE SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE, AND CANTEEN AND NUTRITIONAL CENTER - a bivouac for hundreds of participants and footsoldiers of the civil rights movement.
Presented by
the Civil Rights Memorial Projects Committee of St. Augustine,
Executive Committee: Gerald Eubanks, Chairman; Bernice Harper,
Vice-Chairman; Joe Eubanks and Jimmie Wells
and
supported by Henry ‘Hank’ Thomas, Freedom Rider, 1961
Erected January 2006