This Was Once A Cornerstone Of American Culture, But Now? A Mere Shadow.

In 1915, the Elks of New Castle, Pennsylvania, were a growing segment of the local population. Their members mostly came from a vaudeville or theater background. To accommodate their large numbers, the Elks built a new, more luxurious lodge in downtown New Castle.

As membership declined in the 1980s, the Elks moved to a smaller home and abandoned their old lodge. It sat vacant until 2011, when the town of New Castle made the decision to demolish the building.

However, before it was destroyed, Matthew Christopher visited the former lodge. The photographer behind the Abandoned America series and book rediscovered the beautiful, old building, full of decaying artifacts from a time long gone.

The beautiful old building from across the street.

According to a local historical website, the Elks didn’t pull any punches when they designed their new lodge. It had some pretty amazing amenities.

“The new building had a large basement and three full stories, with a large meeting/dancing hall on the top floor, a billiards parlor, social rooms, a two-lane bowling alley, a kitchen and dining area, locker rooms and shower facilities, and a reading and writing rooms,” according to Lawrence County Memoirs.

On the third floor of the building is a large theatrical oval room.

Christopher believes the room was designed this way because of the performing background of many Elks members.

According to Christopher, little effort was made by the town to save any of the lodge except for these chairs.

The doors are still on the old bathroom stalls.

Christopher made two trips to photograph the old lodge. Sadly, on his second trip, Christopher discovered that demolition was already underway.

Crews took a wrecking ball to the back of the building.

What a waste.

It’s always a shame to see such a beautiful old building destroyed instead of being rehabilitated. New buildings these days just don’t have the same character that they used to.

For more amazing pictures like these, visit Matthew Christopher over at Abandoned America. You can also buy his latest book on Amazon. Make sure to also follow him on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

This Was Once A Cornerstone Of American Culture, But Now? A Mere Shadow.