2023_Fall_ValpoMagazine

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A Place in History
The Valpo Chamber’s time conducting business in the
historic Elks Building ties them even more intimately to
the city they serve.
By Kelleen Cullison and Chris Hough
During its century-long tenure
representing local business
interests, the Valpo Chamber has
– understandably – called many
locations home. They originally met in
the Dr. J. R. Ryan Building, a site better
known after it became Lowenstine’s
Department store. The structure
was taken out by a fire in 1996 and
was replaced by what is now the 57
Franklin St. building, which houses
several businesses, including Shive-
Hattery. After stints meeting at the
Armory, located on Franklin Street,
the Schleman Building on Washington,
and offices available at the Lembke
Hotel, the Chamber found themselves
conducting business in the Valparaiso
Lodge, No. 500 of the Elks.
The Valparaiso Lodge of the Elks
was established in May 1899. Their
first meeting was held in the Bondy
building before they eventually moved
into their own space on Lafayette
Street. This original building was
lost to a fire in January of 1924. The
unfortunate circumstances provided
the Elks with an opportunity to expand
and house their operations under
one roof. They purchased the
adjoining property to the west of the
original and rebuilt. Starting in 1925,
the social club used its new space to
provide a lounge, plus separate spaces
for billiards, cards, and meetings
for their members. The Vivians – the
fraternal club’s sororal order – had their
own rooms within the larger building,
set apart by upholstered chairs and
richly patterned carpet. Meeting
rooms were open for reservation to
members and the community.
The Elks remained in the Lafayette
Street space for many years, even
after they relinquished ownership to
Cecil J. “CJ” Spindler. After renting
from Spindler, the lodge negotiated
the purchase of a new space in 1949,
and after some remodeling, the club
moved to 157 Jefferson Street, where
they remain to this day.
Aside from dinner meetings at the
adjacent Lembke Hotel, the Lodge on
Lafayette was home to Chamber
business from 1939-1942. Led by
President Stambaugh, the Chamber
would use this space to plan
community events and outreach.
After moving from the Elks Building,
the Chamber relocated to the
Napoleon Center, where Stacks Bar
and Grill is currently located, and to a
spot on “Library Lane” which has since
been replaced by a parking lot. They
bobbed around Lincolnway, staying
at an office building before spending
several years back in the former Elks
Building at 150 Lincolnway, which had
become by then the Centier building.
Finally, in 2002, the Valpo
Chamber purchased and moved
into their current space at 162 W.
Lincolnway, which was recently
renovated and rechristened the
Free Enterprise Center.
Our thanks to the Genealogy Department of the Porter
County Public Library System for contributing this article.
42 FALL 2023 |