Nightingale of Brunswick

Pros

• The Brunswick Lodge is a welcoming stop along a visit to the mid-coast.
• The lodge is friendly and welcoming.
• The people are described as the greatest on earth, with consistently good service.
• It is always a good place to visit.
• The hall is clean and well maintained.
• The lodge is a great service organization.
• Visitors enjoy Elks Lodges, finding a fine time and new friends to meet.
• The facility was nice for a granddaughter's celebration of life.
• The lodge is friendly, spacious and on a great Main Street location.

Cons

• There was little parking.
• The Brunswick Elks Lodge #2043 is sadly closed for good.
• When it was open, the last few years barely deserved two stars.

Review

Nestled in Brunswick along the mid-coast, the Brunswick Elks Lodge No. 2043 sits in a white clapboard, two-story building that immediately signals history and character. The structure is described as an elegant Sea Captain Federal-styled Colonial home dating back to the 1800s, perched high up a long driveway on a tree-lined knoll. The setting itself feels timeless, a small enclave of tradition within a bustling Main Street area, inviting visitors to step inside and explore what the Elks experience is all about.

Visitors and members alike remember this lodge as a welcoming, friendly place to visit and belong. For many, it's a go-to stop when they're traveling and looking to connect with other Elks and with the community. The lodge opens at noon on most days, and those who drop in describe it as a great place to join, have fun, and meet new people. The atmosphere is consistently portrayed as warm and inviting, with the people inside doing their best to make newcomers feel right at home.

The building itself contributes to the experience. It's described in reverent terms: a white, clapboard exterior housing a two-story, elegantly appointed interior that fits the historic aura of Brunswick. The claim that it's perched high on a knoll and set back along a tree-lined driveway adds to the sense of arrival - the kind of place that signals a pause in the day to catch up with friends and make a few new ones along the way. Within, the hall is not just functional but maintainable and presentable, suggesting pride in keeping the space suitable for gatherings and events.

Inside the lodge, attendees note a well-kept hall, a small bar, and a professional kitchen. For those who have been members for years, the space serves as a reliable, clean, and well-maintained home base for lodge activities and community service. One longtime member highlights the place as a solid service organization, with the hall designed to support meetings, fundraisers, and social events alike. The presence of a kitchen and a modest bar underscores the lodge's dual role as a social club and a community service hub, capable of hosting everything from casual gatherings to organized events.

The people at Brunswick Elks Lodge No. 2043 are repeatedly described as friendly, welcoming, and engaged. Long-time members recall meeting "great members" and maintaining positive, ongoing connections through frequent visits. There's a sense of pride in the lodge's mission and in the way its people treat guests: the impression is often summed up as "the best people on earth," with consistent notes about good service and a friendly, approachable vibe. For many, stopping by an Elk Lodge is as much about the camaraderie and the social experience as it is about any formal activities, and Brunswick seems to deliver on both fronts.

The lodge also functions as a center for life's milestones and communal moments. One heartfelt memory speaks of it as a nice facility used for a granddaughter's celebration of life, illustrating the space's capacity to hold tender, meaningful moments in addition to its routine social and charitable engagements. Reviewers repeatedly emphasize the friendly, spacious feel and the lodge's favorable Main Street location, which adds to its accessibility and its role as a friendly stop along the day's journey. The sentiment across notes is one of fondness for the people and the place, with many declaring it a great spot to visit anytime and a place where new friendships bloom.

Not every memory, however, is uncolored by practical realities. A first-time visitor points out limited parking, a common caveat at busy downtown locales, which can momentarily complicate an otherwise smooth arrival. Yet even this practical concern sits within the broader positive frame: the lodge's location on Main Street and its historic, inviting exterior continue to draw people in. It's a reminder that historic lodges offer charm and character that still resonate, even as modern logistics pose occasional challenges.

Tragically, the Brunswick Elks Lodge No. 2043 is no longer a living, breathing center of activity for the community. Reports note that it has closed for good, marking the end of a chapter for those who valued the lodge as a place to gather, volunteer, and enjoy the company of fellow Elks. Those who remember its final years acknowledge that, while it once represented a strong, vibrant space, the later period had its struggles, with some opinions suggesting that the experience did not always measure up to earlier standards. Despite the closure, the memories endure: the lodge is fondly recalled as a good place, a place where people could be friendly, spacious, and connected, and where great times were shared along the Main Street footprint.

In its heyday, Brunswick Elks Lodge No. 2043 stood as a vivid symbol of community, hospitality, and enduring friendship. It was celebrated as a place to join and have fun, to meet new people, and to participate in a broader tradition of service and camaraderie. Its architectural charm, the warm reception of its members, and the ease of gathering for life's moments collectively painted a picture of what the Elks experience can be at its best: a welcoming home away from home, anchored in a historic setting on a bustling Main Street, where the greatest proof of value was found in the people who carried the mission forward with consistent kindness and good humor. While the lodge is no longer open, the stories, the connections, and the sense of belonging it fostered remain a meaningful memory for those who enjoyed its hospitality.

This part of Brunswick, Maine offers a variety of amenities that may appeal to seniors looking for a convenient and vibrant community. With several restaurants within walking distance, such as the Brunswick Diner and Byrnes Irish Pub, there are plenty of dining options to enjoy with friends and family. Additionally, there are nearby pharmacies like Medical Center Pharm On Brb and Walgreens for easy access to medications and healthcare needs. For medical care, there are reputable physicians in the area, including Bowdoin Medical Group and Brunswick Eye Care Associates. In terms of recreation, residents can visit Longfellow Community Playground or Wolfes Neck State Park for outdoor activities and relaxation. This neighborhood provides a mix of dining options, healthcare services, and recreational opportunities that may make it an attractive choice for seniors seeking a well-rounded community in which to live.

Restaurants

• Brunswick Diner Br (0.4 miles)
• Pat's Pizza (0.5 miles)
• Amato's Sandwich Shops (0.5 miles)
• McDonald's (0.6 miles)
• Warmings Market (0.7 miles)
• Byrnes Irish Pub (0.8 miles)
• The Union Street Bakery & Cake Shop (0.8 miles)

Pharmacies

• Medical Center Pharm On Brb (0.5 miles)
• Walgreens (0.9 miles)
• Waltz Long Term Care Pharmacy (1 miles)
• Fiori, Michael J (1.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.9 miles)
• Walgreens (2.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.8 miles)

Physicians

• Mid Coast Anesthesia PA (0.6 miles)
• Bowdoin Medical Group (0.7 miles)
• Huffard Benjamin H MD - OA Center for Orthopaedics (0.8 miles)
• Brunswick Eye Care Associates (0.9 miles)
• Katz Stephen D, MD (1 miles)
• Town Park Psychiatric Associates (1 miles)
• Ouellette Patricia MD - Ouellette, Patricia MD (1 miles)

Hospitals

• Mid Coast Hospital Addiction Resource Center (0.6 miles)
• Mid Coast Walk-In Clinic (0.8 miles)
• Parkview Adventist Medical Center (1 miles)
• Parkview Hospital (1 miles)
• Mid Coast Hospital (4.1 miles)
• Sleep Center Mid Coast Hospital (4.4 miles)
• Mid Coast Hospital Medical Building (4.4 miles)

Cafes

• Dog Bar Jim (0.7 miles)
• Bohemian Coffee House (0.9 miles)
• Little Dog Coffee Shop (1 miles)
• Panera Bread (2.1 miles)
• Starbucks (2.3 miles)
• Starbucks (3.2 miles)

Parks

• Longfellow Community Playground (0.8 miles)
• Wolfes Neck State Park (7.6 miles)