Masonic Lodge No. 238
Also known as: Masonic Hall
Why it's listed
Built around 1915, this two-story brick building at South Hamilton and Emory Streets in downtown Dalton combines a street-level shop with an upstairs meeting hall for an African-American Masonic lodge. Local men, probably lodge members, constructed it. Details include brick pilasters on the front, ornamental corbeling above the second-floor windows and at the cornice, and a stepped parapet. Inside, the second floor keeps its wood floors, ceremonial platforms at each end, and raised seating along the room. The ground floor housed a barber shop, a grocery, and a plumbing supply business. Between 1900 and 1950 this intersection was the heart of Dalton's black community, with homes, churches, a school, and many small businesses. Today the lodge is one of the few commercial survivors of that neighborhood and still serves as a Masonic hall. It was recognized for its architecture, its commercial history, and its role in African-American and social history.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is a good, intact example of a multiple-use commercial building with a street-level shop and an upper-floor lodge hall, with Commercial Vernacular Victorian detailing. It is also one of the last surviving commercial buildings from Dalton's historic black community, which centered on this intersection between 1900 and 1950. The lodge served as a focal point and unifying feature for that 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 96000127, listed February 22, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 600 S. Hamilton St., Dalton |
|---|---|
| County | Whitfield County |
| Listed | February 22, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96000127 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c.1915 |
| Architect / builder | Dutch Hanson, Thomas Cunningham, Jim Richards, Dan Smith, and Harrison Jackson |
| Architectural style | Commercial Vernacular Victorian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Black, Social History, Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The upper floor still functions as a Masonic hall. The ground-floor plumbing supply business no longer operates, though much of its inventory remains in the building. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 34.76592, -84.96803 (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 96000127.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6783698
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.