Talk of finding a permanent site for a Lodge began in 1974. This served as the Brigantine Elks Lodge from 1970 until 1975. A group of members got together and went to work. The Storm of 1962 had wreaked havoc on the island and especially on the Hotel. Then the ground floor of the Brigantine Motor Inn (Laguna Grill) was made available to the membership if they were willing to fix it up. Many sites were considered for a meeting place including a lot across from the VFW and the property across from the CVS where Bella Luna is now. The baby Lodge received its charter on June 22, 1970. Harry McGarrigel was the first Exalted Ruler. By Palm Sunday, Mathere were 65 members and the Lodge officers were installed at a ceremony held at the St. Meetings were initially held at Tom Battle’s Restaurant and Bar which was located at the State Marina, currently The Golden Nugget Casino. Then the recruiting of new members began in earnest. At that time Harry McGarrigel was a member of the Atlantic City Elks Lodge, but it wasn’t long before he was persuaded to help with organizing the new Lodge. They decided that Brigantine needed an Elks Lodge and began the process of informing the State Association New Lodge Committee of their intentions. To trace the history of our Lodge we have to go back to 1969 to a conversation between Jack Kelly, a Brigantine resident and member of the American Legion, and Earl Fisher, a member of the Atlantic City Elks Lodge. Elwood looked at Harry and said, ”Wow! Really, this is beautiful! You guys did all this?” Harry replied,” Yeah, with your help we did it all.” The culmination of two years of backbreaking work by the membership coupled with a $255,000 mortgage from Boardwalk National Bank made the dream of The Brigantine Elks Lodge #2428 a reality. On JElwood Kirkman, representative of the Boardwalk National Bank, attended the dedication of Brigantine Elks Lodge #2428 on the site of the former Brigantine Boat Yard. It was gathered in interviews in December, 2008 by Bill and Kathy Joyce. Glomb, longtime Lodge Secretary for this history of Brigantine Elks Lodge #2428.
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