The large brick house at 138 Maiden St. in Washington looks as if it could be a private residence, which it was for 48 years, until 1928, when the Elks bought it.

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From the street, the only clue that it's a clubhouse instead of a home today is the sign out front saying Elks Lodge 776.

The multi-column facade and spacious porch hint at the interior, distinguished by stained glass, finely carved fireplace mantels and mosaic tile, built-in bookcases and hardwood floors throughout. The columns are crowned by horsehair plaster moldings.

Throughout, the house is a model of late 19th-century craftsmanship.

"Back then [1880] nobody was in a hurry to build a home. The woodwork is incredible," said Frank Westcott, a lodge trustee.

	Robert J. Pavuchak, Post-Gazette The Elks Lodge on Maiden Street in Washington started as a private residence in 1880 and was sold to the Elks in 1928. Click photo for larger image.

Included in the incredible woodwork are the floors in each of the parlors. An inlaid design forms an intricate border around the perimeter of each room. The parlors also showcase bay windows with stained glass and ceilings decorated with cherubs.

Pocket doors to the parlors access the hallway and are so heavy, Elks secretary Betty Matthews said, that she needed help to open one of them.

The four-bedroom house has five fireplaces. Its original owner was Sarah R. Hanna, followed by Thomas DeNormandie, James Kuntz Jr., and William G. Nease, who sold it in 1928 to the Elks, which had outgrown its previous home in the Washington Trust Building.

At a cost of $125,000 during the Depression, the Elks renovated the house and furnished it. The renovation included the addition of a 40- by 140-foot banquet room. It currently is used for twice-monthly lodge meetings for 1,100 members, but, over the years, it has served a variety of purposes. It has been leased for weddings and community events. During the big band era, the Elks hosted dances there.

A small ticket booth inside the entry probably was used for such occasions, Mr. Westcott said.

"I can remember Youth for Christ meetings," held there about 60 years ago, Ms. Matthews said.

	Robert J. Pavuchak, Post-Gazette Elks Lodge 776 members stripped away several layers of white paint from the front door of the lodge and restored it to its original dark-stained glory. Click photo for larger image.

The banquet room features hardwood floors, a stage where Washington Community Theatre occasionally has held plays and a balcony from which spectators could watch proceedings below. The balcony is accessible from a set of French doors on the second floor.

On the second story, in addition to the four bedrooms, is a bathroom. Although some Elks hosted out-of-town members in their homes, Lodge 776 never did that, said Mr. Westcott, brother of Washington Mayor Ken Westcott.

Today, the bedrooms are used for storage with the exception of the largest, in which Ms. Matthews has her office.

A second-story stairway leads to the little-used third floor, where, at one time, the Elks held meetings. Heavy, dark-stained high-backed carved chairs, one of which is inscribed with the word "charity," sit gathering dust. Charity, justice, brotherly love and fidelity are the cardinal principles the Elks practice.

To that end, one of the perennial Elks projects is providing home care for multiple sclerosis patients. This year's poster child is Kendle Haught, whose picture is prominently displayed at the basement entrance to the Elks' recreation and dining area. Besides assisting multiple sclerosis patients, the Elks sponsor softball teams and raise money for the American Cancer Society.

	Robert J. Pavuchak, Post-Gazette Betty Mathews, secretary, ascends the ornate oak stairway to the second floor of the Elks Lodge. There are four bedrooms and a bathroom on the second floor. Click photo for larger image.

Lodge members are slowly renovating parts of the house. Members went the extra mile to scrape about six layers of white paint from the front door, revealing its original dark-stained wood beneath.

One of the members had stripped a small portion, saw how it looked and the group decided to do the whole doorway, Mr. Westcott said.

Asked whether the lodge plans to remove the white paint from the remainder of the porch and do any more restoration on the house, Mr. Westcott would say only "money's everything."

In contrast to the rest of the house, the basement is modern, providing ample space for a bar, a pool table, a small dance floor, a dining room that seats 50 and a kitchen.