Charles Albert Jennings World War II Draft Registration Card, 1942; image courtesy of Ancestry.com |
As a young married man, Charles and his wife, Margaret "Maggie" Susan Pifer were living with her parents at 3rd Avenue, NW in Roanoke. Charles was a bookkeeper at a bakery. Four years later, he was working for, or part-owner of, Maddox & Jennings, which was a confectionary or bakery. He continued working for that establishment until 1926 when he became president and proprietor of Jennings & Pedigo, Inc.
I have learned the Elks National Home has an interesting history. The organization purchased the old Hotel Bedford in a bankruptcy sale. It was turned into the National Home, which was established for the indigent and dedicated in 1903. Over 5,000 Elks attended the dedication ceremony from around the country.
The original Hotel Bedford building, which was the first Elks National Home; photograph courtesy of USGarchives.net |
The old hotel quickly became inadequate and a new building was erected during 1915-1916. Then U.S. Senator Warren G. Harding attended the dedication ceremony for this new building. The facility really expanded between 1923 and 1938 when three more buildings were added for residents as well as a laundry building and theater.
The new Elks National Home Building circa 1954; photograph courtesy of USGarchives.net |
On 9 December 1937 a large bronze elk statute was installed in front of the new home. It was a gift from John Schmitt, a member of New York Lodge No. 1. The elk weighs 1,950 pounds.
The Elks National Home decorated for the holidays. You can see the bronze elk statue. Photograph courtesy of Elks National Home website. |
In 1999 the Elks organization began accepting women residents at the National Home.
In 1967 when I lived in Bedford, VA. all the men in the Elks home were retirees who were educated and had been affluent. It seemed a very high end facility with studios for hobbies and formal dining with music daily. I hated to see that wonderful facility leave Bedford in 2014.
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