Walla Walla Elks Lodge No. 287 records, 1894-2009

Founded in 1867, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks (B.P.O.E.) began as a social club in New York City for after-hours minstrel shows, originally called "The Jolly Corks." B.P.O.E. quickly became a fraternal order. The Walla Walla chapter, Lodge 287, was organized on August 10, 1894. The initial Walla Walla chapter was composed of fifteen members, and within twenty years, had grown to 556. As of 1994, Lodge 287 was the home of almost 3,000 members, and saw four state lodge presidents: Joe Chamberlain, Lester Barrett, Keylor Smith, and Bill Medler.

The chapter met first in an old bakery building on First and Main, then rented out space at Odd Fellows Hall. In 1895, the Grand Lodge convention of the Elks approved the Walla Walla Lodge charter, and in 1913, the Walla Walla temple was opened on Fourth and Alder, where it would stand for almost sixty years. In May of 1970, the Alder lodge sustained serious fire damage, and was subsequently razed. Three years later, a new lodge was opened on East Rose Street. That same year, the Walla Walla Elks saw their largest initiation pool with 216 new members. By the 2010s, the Elks had once again moved near Washington State Penitentiary, which is where they are now.

The Elks mirrored racial and gender restrictions, rituals, and practices from other prominent fraternal organizations of the time. Over the years, it has grown to be more inclusive. For example, the Walla Walla Elks welcomed their first female Exalted Ruler, Joan Records, in 2004.

The organization participates in community service and family-oriented activities. An example of this is the Straw Hat Parade, where Elks would don the titular hats and parade around town. In 1982, Lodge members Leonard and Wilma Dorsch organized a motor coach club called the Walla Walla Wheelers Travel Club. The Walla Walla Wheelers would meet multiple times a year and take weekend long excursions to campgrounds near Wallowa Lake, Charbonneau Park, Lyon's Ferry Marina, Fishhook Park, and more. Additionally, the Wheelers would hold an annual rally, as well as a Christmas celebration held at the new Elk Lodge location on Rose Street. Similarly, the town threw a massive celebration for the dedication ceremony of the Alder Lodge.

As an organization, the B.P.O.E. is dedicated to supporting veterans, and the Walla Walla Lodge is no exception. At the local Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (Jonathan M. Wainwright Memorial VA Medical Center), the Lodge 287 supported the Elks Hide Program, where Elk lodges across the nation donated leather to veterans to aid in constructive therapy. Additionally, the Lodge donated money, food, and technology to the VA center. Lodge 287 also participated in an Adopt-A-Veteran Program: a lodge member would partner with a VA patient to get them the fiscal and social support they needed.

The lodges in the state of Washington developed the Tall Elks program, a program that started development in Walla Walla. In 1957, the Elks made efforts to support children with disabilities up to the age of twenty-one. This support came in the form of offering free physical and occupational therapy. The lodge would fund these therapies (and transportation for the therapists) through donations.

The local Elk lodge has also supported other youth programs, such as an end-of-year picnic, Hoop Shoot, the Elks Scholarship Program, Walla Walla Frontier Days 4H, Columbia County 4H Award, YMCA scholarships, Boy Scouts #305, Mid-Columbia Girl Scouts, Veterans Memorial Junior Golf, D.A.R.E., Kmart Christmas Shopping, Walla Walla Annual Invitation Swim meet, Camp Fire Boys and Girls, Camp Amanda, and other academic awards and celebrations.

Notably, Lodge 287 supports seven Little League Baseball teams (they have sponsored three: The Challenger League Team, The Colt League Team, the Pony League Team; they have given equipment to four teams in Waitsburg). Other supported teams included the Babe Ruth Team, American Little League, and National Little League.