THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 28, 1995 TAG: 9509260116
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 05 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SCOTT McCASKEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
A historic home in downtown Norfolk has a new beginning.
The 18th century Allmand-Archer House at 327 Duke St. is now a library and the national office for the Grand Temple Daughters of Elks.
On Sept. 16 the site was renamed and dedicated as the Emma V. Kelley Memorial Library. Kelley was a Norfolk resident who formed the Grand Temple Daughters of Elks in Norfolk in 1902.
Several hundred Elks members and dignitaries came from around the country to take part in the ceremony. City and state officials addressed the crowd.
``I want you to know that Mrs. Kelley is smiling down on us today,'' state Sen. Yvonne B. Miller said to the crowd.
``We are very pleased to have this home,'' City Councilman Joseph N. Green Jr. said. ``This group was founded in Norfolk, and we're proud to have them here.''
Kelley established the Daughters of Elks as a women's auxiliary chapter of the men's Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World. Combined, the predominantly black organizations now have more than 450,000 members in the United States and the West Indies.
``This building, with such a great heritage, will be home to one of the largest black female organizations in the world,'' said Jean C.W. Smith, the Grand Daughter ruler.
The Kelley library houses written material and paraphernalia of the Daughters' history. The library also serves as the business operations center, run by eight full-time employees. The group awards scholarships and supports various local and national charities.
Donald E. Wilson, the grand exalted ruler for the men's Elks, praised the site.
``We were 90 years old and still renting,'' Wilson said. ``Now we have our own facility. This is the most historic event I've witnessed since becoming a brother Elk.''
Before 1992, the Daughter Elks had been leasing space at Plume Center West. The new site was purchased two years ago but had to undergo renovations before the ceremony.
After welcoming remarks by Mayor Paul D. Fraim and songs by the Voices of Norfolk Concert Choir, a section of Duke Street was closed, and the red ribbon on the building's front door cut.
``A lot of good things will be done here,'' noted Elmira Purdie, one of approximately 600 Daughter Elks in Norfolk.
Virginia Johnson, also a Daughter Elk, came by bus from Willow Grove, Pa., to see the dedication.
``This is history in the making,'' she said.
The three-story house was built in the 1790s and is one of the oldest homes in downtown Norfolk. It features Classical Revival style architecture and is on both the state and National Historic Registers.
``This edifice is beautiful,'' Wilson said. ``We must make an effort to dig deep in our pockets to keep it that way.''
Samuel Raines, the men's Elks state president, touted the site's purpose.
``The history of the Daughters and the great work done by African-Americans will be here for people from all over the world to see,'' Raines said. ``People ask what is being done with their donations. Now they can take a tour and see.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by SCOTT McCASKEY
The 18th century Allmand-Archer House at 327 Duke St. was renamed
and dedicated as the Emma V. Kelley Memorial Library recently. The
historic home in downtown Norfolk is now a library and the national
office for the Grand Temple Daughters of Elks.
by CNB