Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
The Sidney Elks Lodge is also the former city auditorium. Theatre seats and lighting can still be seen on the second floor.
One aspect of Sidney cannot be denied. It has a lot of history. Some is unfortunately gone, some actively part of today's society and some hidden from plain sight.
One part of history is unknown to much of the community as it stands as a quiet monument to days gone by. The Sidney Elks Lodge is tall brick building north of the Cheyenne County offices. It is also a veritable maze involving three floors of history. It is an example of history supporters hope to see preserved for future generations.
The Elks Lodge is a building of living history with a fully functioning ticket window just inside the south entrance of the building and stairways to the second floor on the left and right of the ticket window. For those fortunate enough to have a tour to the second floor, there is theatre seating hidden above a false ceiling, separating the present stage from the former balcony. Overall, the seating appears as though it could have been used last week, and potentially available in the future. With the seating are several light fixtures apparently dating to the early years of the building. The building dates to well before the Elks Charter, which was in 1953, according to Anita Pennel, the Lodge's next Exalted Ruler.
On the way up to the balcony seating, there is a stairway to yet another floor. Prior to the Elks acquiring the building, it had been a City facility. The building had a gymnasium and showers, a theatre and projector room, city administration room and police department. The third floor still has jail cells and two working safes.
The main floor is both first floor seating area for entertainment, dinners and the bar, and the historic location of the gym athletic activities. It is a building with history shown in plain sight.
The basement is as massive as the first two floors with just as much mystery.
There is still evidence of showers from the days of basketball games on the main floor. There is also a massive dining room and gaming room or bar. After that there are several smaller rooms before the option of returning to the main floor via a stairway through one of the bathrooms.
"It's too good of a building not to be utilized," said Pennel.
She said the Lodge intends to seek grants for restoration of the landmark building. As part of the fundraising efforts, they will also be seeking new and return members.
"We've lost quite a few (members), but we're in the process of getting them back," she said.
The currently has 139 members. In addition to expanding the s membership, the organization is seeking funding from other sources.
"We're looking at some different grants," she said.
Among those grants is an option with the Community Development Block Grant.
In Tuesday's Sidney City Council meeting, Economic Development Director Melissa Norgard approached the city council for approval of a Community Development Block Grant Tourism Development Grant Funds application. Norgard explained the history of the building to the council, including that it was built in 1930.
"It's such a cool building," she said.
She said an historic but fully functioning and public building would be a draw for downtown tourism.
Mayor Roger Galloway affirmed the building was originally city offices, including a jail, auditorium, gymnasium, and that it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
"I think it would be a tremendous project," Galloway said.
Norgard said the CDBG grant is designed for a maximum of $400,000 with a 25 percent match. She is proposing the 25 percent - $100,000 - come from the downtown LB840 funds.
The city council approved moving ahead with the grant 5-0.
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