Odd Fellows Hall
Also known as: French Empire Mansard Building
Why it's listed
Built in 1883, this two-story brick building at 123 F Street in Eureka was designed as the lodge hall of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. James Simpson, a well-known local builder, constructed it. It measures 40 by 110 feet and has unreinforced brick bearing walls, arched windows with keystones, cast iron pilasters, and two Ionic columns supporting a balcony beneath a tall entrance pavilion. An ornate cornice carries a high plaster mansard roof with iron grillwork. The upper floors remain largely original, while the ground floor was altered in 1920 with new windows and a relocated corner entrance. The second floor served as Eureka's largest and finest meeting hall for service and community groups, and its dedication drew the largest gathering in the city's history. The ground floor held the H. Barman store and a county tax collector's office. It is regarded as Eureka's finest Second Empire building.
Significance in brief: The building is described as Eureka's finest example of Second Empire architecture, with an imposing two-story entrance pavilion and cast iron columns. It was Eureka's largest and finest lodge hall and housed a leading merchandising store, serving as both a commercial centre and a meeting and social hall. Reviewers accepted it for its architectural and social significance despite first-floor alterations.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 78000673, listed May 3, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 123 F St., Eureka |
|---|---|
| County | Humboldt County |
| Listed | May 3, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78000673 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | James Simpson |
| Architectural style | French Empire / Second Empire (mansard) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Upper floors largely unchanged; first floor altered in 1920. The lower floor was most recently used by a local printing business. Structural changes for code compliance used independent heavy timber. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Eureka Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.80456, -124.16629 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 78000673.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7077352
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.