Lyons Township Hall
Also known as: Town Hall,Lyons Township
Why it's listed
Lyons Township Hall in La Grange, Illinois, was designed in 1900 by the Chicago firm Stiles and Stephens to hold township offices and records on the ground floor and a public meeting hall upstairs. Set well back from and above LaGrange Road, it is a symmetrical 2½-story building of red brick with buff Bedford limestone and terra cotta trim, white brick quoining, a bracketed and dentilled iron cornice, and Palladian-style windows. Entrances carry Ionic columns and molded terra cotta ornament, some of it depicting lions. Inside are mosaic and tile floors, marble wainscoting, a birch staircase, and a meeting hall with a maple floor and a proscenium stage. The building was listed for its architecture as a well-preserved example of Georgian Revival design and as a rare township hall of monumental scale. It has served as the center of township and village life, hosting plays, concerts, dances, graduations and meetings, and it houses an American Legion post of World War I veterans.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is a fine, nearly unaltered example of Georgian Revival (Neo-Colonial) architecture. It is also unusual as a township hall of monumental scale and architectural merit, since most Illinois townships lack the tax base for such a building. It has long been the center of township and village activities.
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 78001138, listed November 30, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 53 S. LaGrange Rd., La Grange |
|---|---|
| County | Cook County |
| Listed | November 30, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78001138 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900 |
| Architect / builder | Stiles and Stephens |
| Architectural style | Georgian Revival Neo-Colonial |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition, virtually in mint condition with few alterations; still houses township offices, village offices and the annual town meeting. |
| Acreage | 0.6 |
| Coordinates | 41.81379, -87.86930 (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 78001138.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q97332740
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.