Atlantic City 1911: Elk Bells and Plates

by Dr. James Measell

In July 1911, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (B.P.O.E.) held its 25th annual reunion in Atlantic City, New Jersey. In anticipation, various newspapers in New Jersey, such as the Plainfield Daily Press (May 25, 1911) declared that “tens of thousands of Elks will practically own the resort during the course of their stay.” Under the headline “Elks Arriving at the Shore,” the Bridgeton Pioneer (July 6, 1911) reported that “Grand Exalted Ruler Hermmann … and other high officers” of the Elks organization had arrived in Atlantic City. The Newark Evening Star (July 7, 1911) said that national reunion of Elks would also celebrate the silver anniversary of the New Jersey Grand Lodge of the B.P.O.E. Receptions for Elks arriving by train began on Sunday, July 9, and the formal opening of the Grand Lodge in Marine Hall was set for 8 p.m. on Monday, July 10.

Under the headline “Elks Convene at the Shore,” remarks in the Perth Amboy Evening News (July 11, 1911) really captured the flavor of the events in Atlantic City: “Thousands of Elks are here for the annual reunion of the antlered brotherhood … Elk flags fly everywhere … the whole resort is swathed in Elkdom’s purple.” The Long Branch Daily Record (July 14, 1911) reported that “over 15,000 Elks participated in the parade at Atlantic City” on Thursday. Grand Lodge sessions took place throughout the week, and the final event, a formal “grand ball and reception” was scheduled for Friday evening.

Several weeks prior to the Elks annual reunion, under the headline “Art Glass Souvenirs for Elks,” the National Glass Budget (June 17, 1911), a glass industry trade publication, contained this brief, interesting paragraph:

According to press reports, the Fenton Art Glass Co., of Williamstown, W. Va., has closed a contract with the Woolworth five and ten cent stores for more than 440 dozen plates with Elks heads on them and 320 dozen bells with similar design. It is stated that these souvenirs will be sold at the Grand Lodge meeting of the Elks at the forthcoming meeting in Atlantic City. The articles in question will be made of iridescent glass, and it is claimed that when completed they will be a real work of art.

At first glance upon reading the note in the National Glass Budget, one is likely to exclaim, “That’s a lot of Fenton glass!” Indeed, if the contract with the Woolworth firm was completely fulfilled, there would be 5,280 Elk plates and 3,840 Elk bells shipped to Atlantic City from Fenton Art Glass in Williamstown. There was a Woolworth store near the Boardwalk in Atlantic City, so this was likely the store that ordered the bells and plates in anticipation of sales to Elks and their spouses who were attending the Grand Reunion. Unfortunately, there is no record of this contract with the Woolworth enterprise in Fenton Art Glass records that are now within the Fenton Archives at the Rakow Research Library in Corning, New York. One wonders if the Woolworth store sold all the plates and bells!

F.W. Woolworth store, Atlantic City, early 20th century (note the visible Boardwalk!)

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