CHAPTER V

The years rolled on with great changes in the community life. Marine terminals expanded, great ships came to the port, now business enterprises sprang up and the residential and business sectors developed. World War I made its mark, 86 members served in the armed forces, and the post-war let-down was short-lived. The Lodge continued to grow.

We pause here to note that Robert R. Snodgrass, was elected secretary in 1926 and held that post until his resignation in 1953 and thus is the Lodge's oldest employee in service.

Prosperity's sweet presence was everywhere. The brothers rode merrily along with it. The minutes record visitations, "Ruf-Neks' parties", initiations, the barbecues, dances, and the Lodge sent up four District Deputy Exalted Rulers: Frank R. Cryderman, C. P. "Cap" 'Wright, J. P. Martin, Jr., and Roy Gordon.

In 1928 Calvin Coolidge uttered his famous "I do not choose to run" statement and no one read into it that the honeymoon was over.

The brothers were equally unaware that the lean years which beset the Lodge after its institution, were shortly to be repeated.

July 9, 1929 they authorized the borrowing of $15,000 recommended on the floor by the Trustees, for remodeling the Lodge room. When they got through, the cost was $30,000 and the Lodge was back financially where it started in 1910. Judge Fred Smith, James Dodson, Jr., and Wickersham were the remodeling committee.

The stage was torn out, new seats, except officers' chairs, and rugs and drapes came in. The ceiling was lowered and the present beams built in to aid acustics. Incidentally, those faces painted into the beams are of Smith, Dodson, and Wickersham. The woman's face on the front beam may be that of Rudicinda Dodson.

Windows were cut into the west wall and modern light fixtures installed. The remodeling fever grew and reached over to the lounge room and rest rooms.

Most of the original furniture in the lounge room was replaced, the rest recovered and rich, heavy wall-to-wall carpeting laid down. Rudicinda's ladies room remained untouched however, except there was certain additional equipment in the powder room. The present clubroom downstairs was untouched and kept closed because of prohibition.

No sooner had the job been finished than came the awful years. The depression tolled steadily out of the cast and engulfed California. The brother watched it with dismay.

Before it stopped, half the membership dropped out for non-payment of dues.

On October 1, 1929, there were 1250 members. In 1933 as the Lodge and business in general started the "climb back", there were less than 500.

The fiscal condition of the Lodge was skidding even on October 1, 1929. Receipts that year were $14,600.88 and disbursements were $15,890.91, a loss of $1,290.03.

Conditions grew steadily worse and we find the Lodge hard put to meet its obligations. Things got so tough, that membership dropped below 500 in 1931-32 and the payments on the mortgage were unmet.

The Bank of San Pedro collapsed. It had loaned the Trustees $25,000 against the building plus 500 shares in the Elks Building Association, and $5,000 on the lot adjoining the west side of the building,

Then came Roosevelt and the bank holiday and the long road back to prosperity. The Bank of San Pedro was in the hands of a receiver who was attempting to liquidate its debts.

This was in 1933. The brothers learned that the receiver was planning to foreclose on the mortgage on which very little had been paid.

It looked very dark, indeed for the Lodge.