Polo Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge No. 197
Also known as: The Odd Fellows Building
Why it's listed
Built between May 1901 and January 1902, this three-story brick lodge at 117 West Mason Street in Polo housed Odd Fellows Lodge No. 197, which had met in several other halls since its founding in 1856. Rockford architects Charles Wyman Bradley and Frank A. Carpenter designed it, and local contractor Thomas P. Ruth built it. The Classical Revival facade has a central pediment, pilasters, egg-and-dart molded brick and carved stone details. At 62 feet, it is the tallest building downtown. Two storefronts occupy the ground floor, while upper floors held a large lodge hall, parlors, a billiard room, a regalia room and a banquet and dance room. Many original features survive, including pressed steel ceilings, oak and maple woodwork, and a Moline rope-driven elevator. The lodge disbanded in 1992 after serving about 1,200 members over 136 years. The building is recognized for its fraternal history and its architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination marks it under Criteria A and C. It is tied to the long history of the Odd Fellows fraternity in Polo, which operated from 1856 until the lodge disbanded in 1992. It also shows Classical Revival design with detailed masonry and well-preserved lodge interiors.
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 04001302, listed December 6, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 117 W. Mason St., Polo |
|---|---|
| County | Ogle County |
| Listed | December 6, 2004 |
| Reference number | 04001302 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architects Charles Wyman Bradley and Frank A. Carpenter of Rockford, Illinois; general contractor Thomas P. Ruth of Polo, Illinois |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Social History, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current function is commerce (specialty store); the lodge disbanded in 1992. Storefronts and a rear living area are in use, and some work was still in progress in 2004. Much of the upper-floor interior remains unrestored. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.98809, -89.57940 (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 04001302.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7225894
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.