LIFT WC

LIFT WC LIFT WC (Local Initiative For Transformation – Webster City) is a nonprofit organization dedicated t

The Elks is more than a building.It is about keeping celebrations in our community.It is about supporting local contract...
03/01/2026

The Elks is more than a building.

It is about keeping celebrations in our community.
It is about supporting local contractors and businesses.
It is about giving families a place to gather.
It is about live music, weddings, milestone moments, and shared memories.

For generations, this space brought people together. We are honored to help shape what that looks like for the next generation.

A new era for The Elks is taking shape.

When LIFT WC first stepped into The Elks, we knew the vision was big. Bringing that vision to life takes the right peopl...
02/25/2026

When LIFT WC first stepped into The Elks, we knew the vision was big. Bringing that vision to life takes the right people, and Schoolhouse Construction has been one of those steady, trusted partners from the start.

Restoring a historic building is not simple work. It requires patience, problem-solving, and respect for what has stood for more than a century. Schoolhouse Construction has brought all of that and more to this project. Their craftsmanship and leadership have helped move The Elks from possibility to progress.

We are grateful for their partnership and proud of the work we are doing together. This building is coming back to life because of people like them.

February 17, 1979 - Valentine’s Dance at The ElksThis photo was recently discovered while going through family belonging...
02/23/2026

February 17, 1979 - Valentine’s Dance at The Elks

This photo was recently discovered while going through family belongings after the passing of a community member. Seeing the staircase, the flowers, the dresses, and all of the smiles is a powerful reminder of the memories this building has held over the years.

Before it was a restoration project. Before there were renderings and construction plans... it was a place where people gathered. A place for dances. Celebrations. Laughter. Community.

Those pictured in the photo are (L to R):
Don and Caroline Buhr
Bud and Bev Frazer
Joe and Charlotte Sherman
Ellis "Doc" and Kathleen Swon
Dr. Gene and Leora Brown

If a name is misspelled, please let us know.

As LIFT WC works to bring The Elks back to life, moments like this remind us that this effort is not about creating something new. It is about restoring something that once meant so much to so many.

Do you have photos or memories from events at The Elks? We would love to see them. Share them in the comments or send them to us so we can continue telling the story together.

Yesterday we shared a glimpse inside the future of The Elks Ballroom. Today, we want to recognize the people who are hel...
02/20/2026

Yesterday we shared a glimpse inside the future of The Elks Ballroom. Today, we want to recognize the people who are helping to make that vision possible.

Behind every restored wall, every beam reinforced, every wire run, and every coat of paint are partners who showed up, rolled up their sleeves, and believed in what this building could become.

We are incredibly proud to be working alongside these contractors and craftsmen as The Elks comes back to life:

Schoolhouse Construction
Foam Catz LLC
Hamilton Sandblasting and Contracting
P&P Electric
Peterson Construction
Advanced Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc.
The Tile Pro’s, Inc.
Habhab Construction, Inc.
Widick Roofing & Construction, Inc.
Prudent Painting
Interior Spaces, Inc.
Cutting Edge Drywall
ALN Studio
Bloodgood Construction
Durable Concrete

Whenever possible, we are partnering locally. Every one of these partners has played a role in shaping the future of this space.

We are grateful.

02/19/2026

For more than a century, the third floor space of the historic Elks building has stood as a quiet witness to the life of our community. Soon, it will come alive once again.

Today, we are honored to share the first glimpse inside The Elks Ballroom. These renderings reveal the vision, the atmosphere, and the feeling of what is to come. While a few details may continue to evolve, what you see here reflects the heart of the space we have worked so carefully to restore. A place designed to gather, to celebrate, and to create new memories within walls that hold so much history.

This ballroom represents the final step in bringing The Elks building back to life. What began in 2019 as a commitment to preserve and transform this historic landmark is now becoming reality. Because of the belief, generosity, and support of this community, The Elks will once again open its doors and welcome people inside.

A new era for The Elks is just ahead.

There has been so much happening at The Elks lately, and while many of you have been asking about the ballroom, we wante...
02/12/2026

There has been so much happening at The Elks lately, and while many of you have been asking about the ballroom, we wanted to share a look at the progress taking place throughout the entire building.

Every hallway, doorway, and room is being thoughtfully restored. From the newly finished basement spaces and updated hallways to the custom moulding created to match the original design, it is incredible to see this historic building come back to life.

The new lighting, fresh paint, and completed bathrooms have completely transformed spaces that sat untouched for years into areas that now feel bright, clean, and welcoming again.

We are awaiting approval of our CAT Grant application and the award amount. Once that piece is in place, it will be full steam ahead on completing the ballroom.

We are also working on a dedicated website for The Elks, and will soon be sharing renderings so you can begin to see the vision for the space. As soon as we have a firm completion timeline, we will begin accepting bookings.

We are so grateful for the encouragement and support from this community. This building has meant so much to Webster City for generations, and it is exciting to see it being brought back for future generations to enjoy.

We love seeing The Elks through your photos! As we continue working toward the finish line of this beautiful restoration...
01/04/2026

We love seeing The Elks through your photos! As we continue working toward the finish line of this beautiful restoration, we have had so many wonderful requests from photographers, families, and creatives wanting to capture moments in the building.

Starting January 1, 2026, we are kindly requesting a donation to LIFT WC for photo sessions held at The Elks. As a small nonprofit with an all-volunteer board, coordinating these requests takes time and resources. Your donation helps support our mission and ensures we can continue to offer the access to this beautiful venue.

Our minimum requested donation is $50 during open hours and $75 during closed hours.

We are so grateful for everyone who has been part of this journey with us. If you are interested in scheduling a photo session, please reach out and we will be happy to assist.

Thank you for helping us preserve and maintain this historic gem!

Happy New Year from The Elks!As we step into 2026, we want to take a moment to thank each and every one of you for your ...
01/01/2026

Happy New Year from The Elks!

As we step into 2026, we want to take a moment to thank each and every one of you for your incredible support. Your generosity, encouragement, and belief in our vision have brought us closer than ever to making this dream a reality.

We are thrilled to reveal the official logo for the building! This mark represents what this space will become as we continue working toward completion.

Our building is more than just a structure. It is a revenue-generating hub that will allow us to sustain and expand our mission of community betterment. From hosting events to providing a gathering place for neighbors and organizations alike, this space will help us give back in meaningful and lasting ways.

As always, we continue to accept donations to help us complete construction and ensure the long-term sustainability of this project. Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a difference.

Here is to our most exciting year yet. Thank you for being part of this journey with us.

On this Veterans Day, we have paused to honor the brave men and women who have served our nation. Your sacrifice has sha...
11/11/2025

On this Veterans Day, we have paused to honor the brave men and women who have served our nation. Your sacrifice has shaped our freedom, and your commitment inspires us all.

From everyone at LIFT WC, thank you for your service.

We have had a lot of questions about Taste of Fall and wanted to share an update. While this event has been one of our f...
09/22/2025

We have had a lot of questions about Taste of Fall and wanted to share an update. While this event has been one of our favorite fundraisers, we will not be holding it this year.

We know this may feel surprising since Taste of Fall has always helped raise important funds for our work. But with our small board, we need to keep our focus on completing The Elks building. An event of this size takes a tremendous amount of time and energy, and right now every bit of our attention is needed to get the building finished.

The good news? Taste of Fall isn’t going away... it’s just taking a short break. And when it returns, it will be held right inside the beautiful new Elks Ballroom! We cannot wait to welcome you back to an evening of food, music, and celebration in the space you have helped bring to life.

If you were planning on joining us this year, we invite you to consider making a charitable gift in lieu of a ticket. Every donation (tax deductible) helps us cross the finish line with The Elks and ensures that LIFT WC can continue our mission of community betterment here in Webster City and Hamilton County.

Charitable gifts can be made via the online link below or by sending a check payable to LIFT WC to the Enhance Hamilton County Foundation, 501 Bank Street, Webster City, IA 50595.

Online link: https://www.desmoinesfoundation.org/LiftWC

Thank you for understanding, supporting, and believing in this project as we couldn’t do it without you.

We get a lot of the questions about LIFT WC and The Elks Building project, so we decided to create a "You Asked, We're ...
09/12/2025

We get a lot of the questions about LIFT WC and The Elks Building project, so we decided to create a "You Asked, We're Answering" series to make sure everyone has the information they are wanting to know.

Over the next few weeks, we'll be addressing the most common questions we are asked.

We give a lot of tours and were recently asked if we have open hours for public tours. Find out the answer in today's "You Asked...We're Answering!"

Have other questions about LIFT WC or The Elks project? Message us and we'll add them to our list!

Today we remember and honor the 2,977 lives lost on September 11, 2001.As we work to strengthen and revitalize our commu...
09/11/2025

Today we remember and honor the 2,977 lives lost on September 11, 2001.

As we work to strengthen and revitalize our community, we are reminded that the bonds we build together through service, partnership, and shared commitment, reflect the resilience and unity that define us as Americans.

We will never forget those we lost, the families forever changed, and the heroes who responded with courage and sacrifice.

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Webster City, IA
50595

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LIFT WC

LIFT WC is a local nonprofit that’s primary purpose is to grow and support the social and economical prosperity of Webster City in a way that honors and preserves our history while creating opportunities for educational, recreational, social, and cultural experiences for the future.

Our goal is to identify and develop catalytic projects, services, and programs that build the social infrastructure of Webster City.

Our first project is to revitalize the Elks Lodge building located at 713 Second Street in downtown Webster City. Our three goals for this project are:


  • Restore the historical building and get it back into a useable state.