Portland’s Billy Webb Elks Lodge, long closed by a fire, readies for its 100th anniversary

Published on: 05/13/2026

This news was posted by Oregon Today News

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North Portland's Billy Webb Elks Lodge may be restored in time for its 100 anniversary. Supporters need $300,000 to succeed. Lou McLemore and Deborah Roache, who have leadership positions at Billy Webb Elks Lodge, welcomed people May 12 to the first community meetings to discuss the reopening of the historic social hub in North Portland. North Portland community members gathered May 9 to discuss programing for the reopening of the Billy Webb Elks Lodge. The Billy Webb Elks Lodge at the intersection of Tillamook Street and Williams Avenue suffered a catastrophic fire on September 11, 2021. The 1926 Billy Webb Elks Lodge is a social cornerstone of Albina, a collection of neighborhoods were the majority of Portland’s African American population lived. Supporters of the historic Billy Webb Elks Lodge in North Portland have been working to restore the beloved building. Louis McLemore, who serves as the Lodge Exalted Ruler of the historic Billy Webb Elks Lodge says the building is interwoven into the community, offering support and celebrations, from Deborah Roache, who serves as Daughter Ruler of the Billy Webb Elks Lodge, is proud of the progress made for the first phase of the restoration. Supporters of the historic Billy Webb Elks Lodge in North Portland continue to work on the restoration. Gary Suttenberg joined the historic Billy Webb Elks Lodge in 2008, attracted to the community events and vintage jazz music in the Rowe compact disc jukebox, which is in need of repair. Progress on the Billy Webb Elks Lodge includes a new roof. Trusses, new and original, in the ballroom will remain exposed as they were when the building was a YWCA and the ballroom was a basketball court. Helping to raise funds for the restoration of North Portland's historic Billy Webb Elks Lodge through membership, donations and volunteered professional services are Lodge Exalted Ruler Louis McLemore, Daughter Ruler Deborah Roache and member Gary Suttenberg. A fundraising effort is underway to help restore the historic Billy Webb Elks Lodge in North Portland after a fire left extensive damage to the building’s roof, rafters, walls and floor. This 2021 photo shows damage caused by a fire at the historic Billy Webb Elks Lodge in North Portland. A new roof and cedar siding have replaced parts of the historic Billy Webb Elks Lodge damaged in a 2021 fire (as seen in this 2021 photo). This May 2024 photo shows the kickoff of phase 1 of the restoration. In this June 2024 of the restoration shows work being performed by Clatsop College students. This July 2024 photo shows phase 1 of the restoration.

Lou McLemore, president of the historic Billy Webb Elks Lodge in North Portland, had good news Tuesday night to share at a community meeting he organized.

News Source : https://www.oregonlive.com/history/2026/05/this-north-portland-landmark-survived-fire-and-a-century-of-history-now-its-300k-away-from-reopening.html

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