After an Outpouring of Community Support, The Billy Webb Elks Lodge, a Beacon of Portland’s African American Albina neighborhood, Now on the Path to Restoration

Portland, Oregon (May 1, 2023) - The Billy Webb Elks Lodge, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, announces that the first phase of construction is underway to repair debilitating fire damage to the historic structure that permanently shuttered the building in 2021. Located at 6 N. Tillamook Street, the Billy Webb Elks Lodge has served the traditionally African American neighborhood of Albina as a Black YWCA, a USO center for black servicemen, and as a Black Elks Lodge at a time when the Elks organization did not allow black members. Prior to the fire, the lodge used the historic building for community services and as a social gathering place, providing an environment that promotes safety, dignity, respect, and pride for people of all colors who have long and deep ties to the Albina community. “We are so grateful that construction is finally underway to restore this iconic landmark and prevent further damage to the building, but it really means the Billy Webb Elks Lodge is on its way to shine again and continue to be of service to the community as a beloved gathering space,” said Lou McLemore, Exalted Ruler and Deborah Roache, Daughter Ruler of the Billy Webb Elks Lodge.

Phase 1 Construction Made Possible by Community Support

Led by Andersen Construction, work on the heavily damaged structure will secure the 95-year-old building from further weather damage. This construction phase secures all the major exterior elements needed to enclose the building, including rebuilding the roof infrastructure, replacing the entire roof, re-routing systems for emergency egress, and preparing for the interior finish work.  Phase 1 is expected to be complete by late Summer.

Phase 1 construction was made possible with generous support from individuals and the community via a GoFundMe campaign in addition to major grants from Meyer Memorial Trust and the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund. Additional funds and critical partners who contributed include:

  • Restore Oregon
  • Kinsman Foundation in support of Oregon’s Most Endangered Places
  • Andersen Construction
  • #BLCKDesign and Resolve Architecture
  • Shiels Obletz Johnsen (Kim Knox)
  • Davis Wright Tremaine (Marcus Eyth)
  • Debora Leopold Hutchins
  • James Posey, President of NAACP
  • Constructing Hope
  • City of Portland:
    • Mayor and Commissioners
    • Bureau of Development Services 
    • Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, Historic Resources Program (Brandon Spencer-Hartle)
  • Westminster Presbyterian Church (Rev. Beth Merrill Neel)
  • Moreland Resource Consulting
  • Works Real Estate

With Support from the Albina Preservation Initiative’s Urban Racial Justice Field School

In addition to the Phase 1 construction, the Billy Webb Elks Lodge is working with Restore Oregon and the non-profit’s Urban Racial Justice Field School, part of the Albina Preservation Initiative. This two-day hands-on skilled trade learning workshop, hosted by Clatsop Community College’s (CCC) Historic Preservation & Restoration Program, will bring together Albina community members and CCC students to restore the second-floor historic windows, including repairing two historic windows and fabricating two new windows.

Support Needed - Phase 2 Funding to Fully Re-Open to the Public

In 2020, Restore Oregon, a non-profit that works to save historic places in Oregon, listed the Billy Webb Elks Lodge as one of Oregon’s Most Endangered Places. Since then Restore Oregon has served as a vital partner to help secure the lodge from further disrepair and create a plan for the lodge’s future, including intensive technical assistance and preservation consultation in addition to capital fundraising support for the initial Phase 1 restoration project. “Without the resourcefulness provided by Restore Oregon, before and after the fire, we’d have no idea where this and other parts of the restoration would be,” said Roache.

 

With Phase 1 fully funded and work now underway, the Billy Webb Elks Lodge is now working to secure additional funding for Phase 2 construction that will restore the interior spaces, starting with the beloved ballroom before they will be able to fully re-open to the public.  “We are working hard to get the Lodge re-opened and back in service to the community and need to raise the remaining $500,000,” said McLemore. 

 

Ways to Help the Billy Webb Elks Lodge:

  • Attend Restore Oregon’s Urban Racial Justice Field School - Open to the Public - Just a Few Spots Left: Local community members are encouraged to attend the June workshop to learn historic preservation trade skills:
  • When: 9 am - 4 pm,  June 1 and 2, 2024
  • Where: Billy Webb Elks Lodge
  • What: Community Volunteers and CCC students will use hands-on preservation techniques focused on wood window repair, energy efficiency upgrades for existing windows, and general wood repair for historic materials. The workshop is free for Albina residents. Interested volunteers can sign up for the workshop by emailing Clatsop Community College at efalleur@clatsopcc.edu with the following info: Course number (BLD220), legal name, email (if different from sender), phone number, and home address.