Elmo Stained Glass

[Henoch Holverson]

MyElmo window was up next! The auctioneer read out the little card explaining the significance of the stained glass window hanging. He started out the bidding at $50. Seemed reasonable, given the price for the beets.

On Thanksgiving weekend, 1999, Elmo's moved into it's new building, a converted hundred year old Synagogue. It took nearly 3 years to complete the renovations, including repointing of all masonry, brand new bathrooms, completely redone plumbing, electrical and heating/air conditioning, and a brand new modern kitchen. All of the stained glass windows were removed and shipped to MCMurray to be reconditioned by The Glassworks Studios.

The new location features a new modern kitchen, a coffee bar serving cappuccino, lattes and many fine pastries and desserts, public internet access terminals, a lounge area with a large screen TV, and lan/on-line gaming featuring the hottest multi-player games.

Passed away unexpectedly on January 20, 2020 at his home in Bayport. He was preceded in death ten months ago by his wife of 70 years, Esther; parents, William and Alma; siblings, Marian Zoller and William Mordick. He is survived by his children, Barbara (William) Rasmussen, John Mordick, David (Maureen) Mordick; special nephew, Gary Horrisberger and his daughter, Heather (Daris) Lawrenz; sister, Dorothy Dennis; grandchildren, Krn (Michael) Winberg, Phoenix Mordick; great-grandson, Liam Winberg; many nieces and nephews. After graduating from Stillwater High School and serving in the United States Navy, Bob worked at Connelly Shoe Company and Harmon Glass. He was a lifelong member at St. Lucas Community Church, held season tickets for Gopher football, and was Scoutmaster of Troop 162 of Lake Elmo Scouts, and later served on Indianhead Council. He was an active member of Lake Elmo VFW and volunteered with Minnesota Armed Forces Service Center. Bob also enjoyed traveling with Esther, cribbage, playing cards, bowling, and even working with stained glass. Bob loved being outside: especially fishing, also hunting, gardening and camping. Funeral service will be 11AM Saturday, January 25, at ST. LUCAS COMMUNITY CHURCH, 1195 Manning Ave N. Lake Elmo, with visitation one hour prior. Memorials preferred to St. Lucas Community Church.

It is the mission of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Southern Jurisdiction, to improve its members and enhance the communities in which they live by teaching and emulating the principles of Brotherly Love, Tolerance, Charity, and Truth. It is the duty of the Scottish Rite to actively embrace high social, moral, and spiritual values including fellowship, compassion, and dedication to God, family and country.

The Scottish Rite bodies located at Wichita, Kansas, were organized and chartered by the Supreme Council of the Southern Jurisdiction as follows: in the month of December 1886, a notice was inserted in the Daily Eagle, inviting all Scottish Rite Masons who were in favor of organizing Bodies of the Rite in Wichita to meet at the Occidental Hotel. Only four brethren met in answer to the notice: Robert H. Smith, Sol T. Tuttle, Harvey S. Horner and J. Giles Smith. The only business transacted at the meeting was a resolution to proceed as soon as a sufficient number of brethren of the Rite could be found to constitute a quorum for an organization, and an adjournment was had until May 21. 1887, at which time twelve members of the Rite were present and a Lodge of Perfection was organized as Elmo Lodge of Perfection Number 9.

Brother E. T. Carr. 33 Inspector General for Kansas, met with the brethren on June 9, 1887 and inaugurated the Lodge with the following Charter members, all 32: J. S. Cole, E. Goldberg, S. H. Horner, S. T. Tuttle, J. L. Boyd. J. W. Shults, Charles Ballance, Robert H. Smith, O. F. Hood, H. C. Gager and J. T. Sargent.

The year 1887 was a turbulent, exciting time in Wichita. The population was increasing steadily as new waves of settlers moved in from the East. Construction of new buildings was occurring at a dizzying pace. Hardly a week would pass when the planning or construction of a new building was not announced or begun. Because of the hectic pace of building and development and the opportunities such activities presented, it was inevitable that Wichita would receive an influx of individuals who hoped to capitalize on the situation. Among the speculators, builders, developers and would-be land barons were two young architects whose work would materially affect the appearance of the city.

The Proudfoot and Bird firm entered quickly into the planning and construction activities that were so characteristic of Wichita during this period. Their architectural practice was as diversified; official records show the firm involved in the planning of commercial buildings, factories, public schools, universities, a municipal building, churches, and residences. Two striking examples of the houses designed by the firm were the residences that Proudfoot and Bird themselves occupied.

Newspaper accounts document the frenzied pace at which construction activities were occurring during the late 1880s. During the period between May 10, 1887, and September 29, 1887, the Proudfoot and Bird architectural firm was involved in the planning or construction of twenty-nine projects: two banks, thirteen commercial buildings, three university projects, three public schools, six residences, one factory, and the YMCA building.

As was inevitable, the building period with its inflated values and vision and dreams slowed dramatically. By 1888, some of the eastern investors had lost their willingness to recklessly speculate in Wichita real estate. Grandiose projects such as the Watch Factory and Judson University hardly got beyond the promotional stage with only minimal excavation and foundation work being accomplished at the two sites.

From Wichita, Proudfoot and Bird moved to Salt Lake City, where they teamed up with a local architect to design a large city and county building. They stayed in Utah for about five years. In 1896, Proudfoot moved back to Philadelphia; however, by 1900 they were back together practicing architecture in Iowa. They practiced in Iowa for the remainder of their professional careers, designing numerous buildings on the Iowa State Campus at Ames. George Bird retired from the architectural firm in 1916, moving to California where he lived until he died in 1956, at age ninety-nine. Willis Proudfoot continued practicing architecture in Des Moines until he was stricken by strokes and died in 1928 at the age of sixty-eight.

In 1887, prior to this acquisition, the Bodies of the Scottish Rite labored zealously from rented rooms on the third floor of the Hacker & Johnson Block, 503 East Douglas Avenue. The work of the organization was difficult under these circumstances for it was performed without proper costumes, equipment, or facilities to render the sublime teachings of the several degrees in an efficient and credible manner.

In the month of January 1891, the Bodies of the Rite purchased the Baptist Church Property at the corner of Market and First Streets. This acquisition represented a significant opportunity for the growth and prosperity of the organization and the addition of proper facilities and equipment to the tenacity and determination of the membership proved to be a potent combination. During this period membership within the Rite expanded from 119 in October of 1891 to 341 in November, 1896. By January of 1898, the quarters that helped to fuel this development were found to be inadequate. During this period, the real estate market in Wichita was at an all-time low and the YMCA building, the current home of the Scottish Rite Bodies of Wichita, was on the market at a substantially lower price than its actual worth. The Bodies purchased the YMCA building and immediately began planning a remodeling project that included stage and scenery in an auditorium with a seating capacity of 300. These improvements provided the fraternity with a truly magnificent facility that has served the Scottish Rite and the community for nearly a century. The cornerstone for the new addition was laid by the Grand Lodge A.F. & A .M. of Kansas on April 22, 1907 with the appropriate ceremonies. On the evening of May 30, 1908, the Temple was opened to the Masons of Wichita and their families to show them one of the most richly furnished and elaborate buildings for this purpose in the country.

The Temple was formally dedicated on the evening of June 8, 1908, By Grand Commander James D. Richardson, 33. Several members of the Supreme Council and other dignitaries from different parts of the country were in attendance. June 8, 10, and 11, Degrees 4 through 32 were conferred. Five hundred and twenty-nine Master Masons of this Jurisdiction applied for and were elected to receive these Degrees at that time. These degrees were delivered in strict accordance with the Ritual and made a lasting impression on candidates and visitors alike. This phenomenal class was the subject of much comment in Masonic circles and the Grand Commander devoted much space to it in his Allocution the following year.

During this period in Valley history the membership was constantly augmented by classes usually numbering from one to two hundred at each convocation. By the annual report of July 1, 1912, there were between 2,900 and 3,000 members on the rolls, making The Valley of Wichita, numerically, the largest Scottish Rite Body in the Southern Jurisdiction. From this point the membership experienced steady growth until the time of the first World War, a period when many men sought the inspiration, strength, and unity of action that Masonry is uniquely equipped to provide. The number of men seeking greater light in the Scottish Rite Degrees increased until when, in the fall of 1919, 629 Master Masons applied for and received the Degrees of the Wichita Consistory. This was one of the largest classes ever to receive these beautiful Degrees at one reunion.

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