Oddfellows Hall
Also known as: International Order of Oddfellows Hall; IOOF Hall
Why it's listed
Oddfellows Hall is a three-story red brick building on Lincoln Way in Auburn, completed in 1894 for the local Odd Fellows lodge. Its Italianate design features brick pilasters dividing the front into four bays, arched double-hung windows, an iron cornice with decorative brackets, and a small pediment bearing the IOOF letters and three interlocking rings. Three storefronts occupy the ground floor, while the lodge hall, banquet room and ante rooms are upstairs. Henry T. Holmes, a lime kiln owner and early Auburn figure, built it using local brick. Auburn Lodge No. 7, organized in 1852, had outgrown its first lodge in Old Town and chose a site nearer Central Square and the railroad depot. The hall has hosted Odd Fellows, Rebekahs, Theta Rho Girls and other groups ever since. A concrete block addition at the rear was added in 1960 and is hidden from the street. The building keeps a high degree of integrity.
Significance in brief: The nomination finds it significant under Criterion A as a fraternal hall, serving Auburn Lodge No. 7 and affiliated groups since 1894. Its location away from Old Town reflects the town's shift toward the newer business district near the railroad depot. It was built by Henry T. Holmes, an Auburn pioneer and leading figure in the northern California lime industry, and it retains a high degree of integrity.
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 11000940, listed December 19, 2011. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1256 Lincoln Way, Auburn |
|---|---|
| County | Placer County |
| Listed | December 19, 2011 |
| Reference number | 11000940 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1894-1960 |
| Architect / builder | Holmes, Henry T. (Builder) |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as maintained through the years and in excellent condition; still used by Oddfellows and other local organizations, with three ground-floor store spaces. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.89814, -121.07495 (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 11000940.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q85790263
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.