Odd Fellows Hall
Why it's listed
Built around the 1850s, this two-story wood building in La Grange, California, has served as the local Odd Fellows hall. It is designed in a vernacular Greek Revival style popular in California during that decade. Classical touches include a roof pitch recalling a Greek pediment, box cornice returns, tall narrow pilasters at the corners and a three-bay front with a central doorway. The trim was probably painted green against white clapboard siding, a New England color scheme often used in mid-nineteenth-century California, and the foundation is rubble stone. A porch with decorative jigsaw work was added later, probably in the late nineteenth century, and several rooms have been built onto the side and rear. The hall is valued as a good example of its architectural style and for its social function as the lodge hall of a pioneer community. It remains in use by the Odd Fellows and is in fair condition.
Significance in brief: It is considered a good example of vernacular Greek Revival architecture as found in 1850s California. It is also significant for its social role as the I.O.O.F. hall serving the pioneer community.
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 79003467, listed August 24, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Yosemite Blvd., La Grange |
|---|---|
| County | Stanislaus County |
| Listed | August 24, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79003467 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Vernacular Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in fair condition and altered; still used as an I.O.O.F. hall, with no threats known. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 37.66336, -120.46244 (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 79003467.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7077354
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.