OUR HISTORY & OUR LEGACY
Our History
Founded in 1898. Forged Through Time. Still Leading Today.
Maceo Elks Lodge #8 was established on December 7, 1898, and has proudly stood as a symbol of unity, leadership, and resilience for well over a century. As the oldest Elks Lodge in the State of Florida, our story is woven into the very fabric of Jacksonville's historic LaVilla neighborhood a place once celebrated as the "Harlem of the South" for its rich cultural vibrancy and Black excellence.
Our lodge building, originally constructed in 1914 as the Young Men's Hebrew Association, is more than brick and mortar it's a living monument. It's the last surviving institutional structure in LaVilla tied to Jacksonville's early Jewish community, and it later became a powerful center of Black civic life. Within these walls, generations of trailblazers gathered to organize, educate, celebrate, and uplift. From civil rights leaders to community mentors, Maceo Elks Lodge #8 has been a launchpad for change.
Throughout the decades, we've weathered storms literal and societal. We've stood firm through segregation, social upheaval, and transformation. And through it all, we've remained committed to our core values: charity, justice, brotherly love, and fidelity. Our lodge has hosted oratorical contests to empower youth voices, awarded scholarships to open doors of opportunity, and supported health initiatives that brought care to those who needed it most.
This is not just our history it's our heartbeat. It's the foundation on which we continue to build.
Our Legacy
Legacy isn't just about what we've doneit's about what we continue to do. Maceo Elks Lodge #8 is a dynamic, forward-moving force powered by generations of members who believe in service, connection, and impact.
We honor our past by investing in our future. Our lodge is a place where mentorship thrives, where community service is a way of life, and where cultural pride is celebrated. We host events that bring people together, launch programs that make a difference, and welcome new members who are ready to lead with heart.
Every handshake, every meeting, every act of kindness adds a new chapter to our story. Our legacy lives in the scholarships we award, the veterans we support, the youth we guide, and the families we uplift. It lives in the laughter shared at lodge gatherings and the quiet moments of reflection on how far we've come.
We are not just preserving historywe are propelling it forward. Maceo Elks Lodge #8 is a movement of purpose, pride, and progress. And we invite you to be part of it.