ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — The lengthy unraveling of what many call a downtown Rockford landmark is now in its final chapter as demolition crews have begun to raze the former Elks Lodge No. 64 following years of legal battles, stalled redevelopment promises and mounting safety hazards.
The 113‑year‑old structure at 210 W. Jefferson St., long considered an architectural gem and a remnant of Rockford’s early 20th‑century civic pride, had been vacant for nearly 30 years before the wrecking ball arrived Monday morning.
The building fell deeper into disrepair as city officials pressed its most recent owner, Mark McInnis of Argyll Properties, to follow through on redevelopment proposals or bring the structure up to code. Neither materialized, and by early 2026 the once grand lodge had deteriorated beyond rescue. Crews began knocking down exterior walls under a $233,108 city contract with Northern Illinois Service Co.
A century of downtown presence
Built in 1912, the lodge originally served Rockford’s chapter of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Designed in a classical revival style, the facility once housed a ballroom with arched ceiling beams, a swimming pool, gymnasium, dining room and even residential apartments. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005…