Woodstock Elks Lodge 1043 was instituted on October 24th, 1906. Our first Exalted Ruler was John C. Donnelly. John had previously served as a member of the Illinois State House of Representatives from the 8th district. Our Charter members are listed below.
| E. C. Kappler | E. Losee |
G. Lemmers |
| J. Kennedy | D. Nichols | W. Lichty |
| J. Phalen | M. Osterback | J. Rowe |
| E. Ries | G. Shuttach | P. Rose |
| A. Wienke | W. Thorne | F. Dirrenberger |
| V. E. Brown | J. Alt | R. Pratt |
| F. Blakslee | G. Austin | E. Jewett |
| J. Conners | W. Weaver | D. Olmstead |
| M. Finler | M. Conrad | T. Cowlin |
| C Harding | B. Eidamiller | G. Darmer |
| T. Jacombs | B. Hayden | B. Henricks |
In the beginning, the meetings were held in the Odd Fellows Building on the Woodstock Square. (The Odd Fellows is another Fraternal Organization that still thrives in Illinois but is no longer active in Woodstock).
In 1923 we moved into our current location at the corner of Cass and Throop streets on the Woodstock Square (see the map and satelite image on the home page). The first floor was a doctors office and an ice cream parlor with the Elks using the second floor for meetings. In 1955 $93,700 was spent to remodel the building to the configuration it is in today.
