Grange Hall
Also known as: Somerset Grange #1553
Why it's listed
Grange Hall is a small, one-story brick meeting house in rural Somerset Township, north of Murphysboro in Jackson County, Illinois. Built in 1912 by contractor W. A. Pittman for about $1,400, it replaced a frame hall on the same site that burned in 1909. The building measures twenty-four by forty feet, with soft red brick walls, a slate hip roof, arched window and door crowns, and an ornate metal ceiling inside. For decades it was the center of community life, hosting Grange and Farm Bureau meetings, township elections and government business, 4-H clubs, school plays, box suppers and family reunions. In 1918 it served as an induction center for World War I draftees. A railroad station and grain scales once stood beside it. The hall was restored in 1988 and remains in use for township business and voting, which supports its local significance in social history from 1912 to 1940.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the hall is locally significant under Criterion A for its role in the social and political life of a rural township from 1912 to 1940. It hosted Grange, Farm Bureau and township meetings, elections, 4-H clubs, plays and socials, and was the only public meeting building in the township. It also served as a World War I draft induction center in 1918.
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 90000722, listed May 4, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | SR 127/13 S of Beaucoup Cr., Murphysboro |
|---|---|
| County | Jackson County |
| Listed | May 4, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000722 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1912-1940 |
| Architect / builder | W. A. Pittman (contractor) |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and Early 20th Century American Movements/Commercial Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored in 1988; still used for township activities and as a polling place for elections. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 37.81948, -89.32194 (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 90000722.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5595651
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.