Jacksonville Labor Temple
Why it's listed
Jacksonville Labor Temple is a three-story brick meeting hall at 228 South Mauvaisterre Street, about 80 feet long and 20 feet wide. Union members built it in 1904 for the Jacksonville Trades and Labor Assembly, which had outgrown its rented quarters. Members bought a run-down building and lot for $1,000, razed it, and put up the new hall largely with donated labor and materials. Carpenters, plumbers, brick suppliers and hod carriers all contributed, and the cornerstone holds the names of 900 union men. Inside, the entrance lobby has a hand-made plaster ceiling and walls with a floral bas-relief painted by union painters, now covered in white paint. Meeting rooms occupy the basement and upper floors. The building was the third labor temple erected in the United States, after those in Los Angeles and Belleville, Illinois. With those two no longer in use, it is considered the oldest continuously used example, and most of the city's unions still meet there.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it was the third labor temple built in the United States, after those in Los Angeles and Belleville, Illinois. Because those two are no longer in use, it is described as the oldest continuously used labor temple in the country. It has served as a central meeting place for most of the city's unions since 1904.
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 80004524, listed November 13, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 228 S. Mauvaisterre St., Jacksonville |
|---|---|
| County | Morgan County |
| Listed | November 13, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80004524 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1904 |
| Architect / builder | Jacksonville labor union members |
| Areas of significance | Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In continuous use by most Jacksonville unions since 1904; described as in good repair and much as first built, with some modifications. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Jacksonville Downtown Historic District |
| Coordinates | 39.73294, -90.22823 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
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 80004524.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19880944
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.