Elk’s Lodge Apartment
• Rose of McMinnville •
Constructed in 1908 for McMinnville’s Elks Lodge, this historic building originally housed the lodge rooms on the upper floor, while the ground level featured a variety of small shops. By 1912, the first floor had been divided into four distinct spaces: a dry goods store, a statuary, a restaurant, and the Gaiety Movie Theater. Though the ground floor has undergone modifications over the years, the building’s rich history remains deeply embedded in its structure.
From the early 1930s onward, the second floor remained largely vacant—except for a brief period in the 1960s, when the former ballroom served as a teen center. In 1993, local preservationists Matt and Marilyn Worrix undertook an extensive renovation, transforming the upper floor into 10,000 square feet of living space, while carefully preserving its original Arts and Crafts style.
The building’s basement also holds a significant piece of McMinnville’s history. Between 1908 and 1920, it housed a Chinese restaurant and served as a home for many Chinese immigrants. Today, the basement remains privately owned, and artifacts from the families who once lived and worked there can still be found, offering a glimpse into the city’s early immigrant communities.
“The fact that most of the second story sat empty for sixty years created a unique opportunity to simply restore the property. It was like a time capsule. It did take a lot of work, but there was so much to work with. We have always loved the Arts and Crafts style, and the second floor is such a perfect example of that period.”
Historical Significance
The Elks Lodge Building is classified as a Primary Significant Contributing Structure in downtown McMinnville. Buildings with this designation were constructed before 1912 or reflect the architectural styles and patterns of development from McMinnville’s early settlement in 1881 through 1912—a time of rapid growth spurred by city improvements and expanded rail service from the Oregon Electric and Southern Pacific Railroad.
