IOOF Lodge #355
Why it's listed
Built in 1917 on land bought from the Stillman L. Magee Estate, this two-story unpainted brick building in Clements, California, was constructed as the meeting hall of I.O.O.F. Lodge #355. It has a flat roof, pilasters, a small parapet and evenly spaced arched double-hung windows. Upstairs, the lodge room keeps its original wood floors, staircase, pews and the peepholes in the meeting-room door. Downstairs, a large open room and a kitchen served social gatherings. The lodge, chartered in 1889, became the social center of the town, hosting dances, dinners and pageants, and it ran the popular May Day Picnic until 1925. Other groups also met there. Membership declined, and the lodge merged with the Lockeford lodges in 1976. California recognized the hall as a Point of Historical Interest in 1992. A restoration carried out from 2004 to 2005 followed federal preservation standards. It is listed for its role in the community's social life from 1917 to 1956.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues for local significance in social history under Criterion A, for the property's association with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and its role in the town of Clements. The hall served as the town's social hub for meetings, dances, dinners and pageants. The lodge also ran the community May Day Picnic for years. The period of significance runs from the 1917 construction to an arbitrary 1956 cutoff.
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 07000085, listed March 1, 2007. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 18819 East CA 88, Clements |
|---|---|
| County | San Joaquin County |
| Listed | March 1, 2007 |
| Reference number | 07000085 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1917-1956 |
| Architectural style | No Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored between March 2004 and March 2005 following the Secretary of the Interior's Standards; the first floor has been altered with wood paneling and a later kitchen, and a later outside restroom has been demolished. Current use is listed as a specialty store. |
| Acreage | 1.1 |
| Coordinates | 38.19151, -121.08611 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 07000085.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5972906
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.