Elks Building
Why it's listed
Built in 1924 at 1218-1222 Hancock Street, this three-story brick building was constructed as the home of the Quincy Elks Lodge No. 943. Boston architects J. William Beal and Sons designed it in the Colonial Revival style. The five-bay facade has limestone-faced storefronts on either side of a recessed central entrance framed by Doric columns and topped by a wrought iron balcony. Arched second-floor windows with wooden fan motifs surround a central Palladian window, and a modillioned cornice and balustraded parapet finish the top. The lodge was founded in 1905, and the building rose during the 1920s redevelopment of Quincy Center, after Hancock Street was widened and older frame structures were removed. A 1985-86 renovation restored the storefronts and extended the third floor to the rear without harming the building's architectural integrity. It is regarded as one of Quincy's most elaborate and best preserved institutional buildings, and it now houses offices and shops.
Significance in brief: It dates from the 1920s, a period of commercial and institutional expansion in Quincy Center, and is among the city's best examples of Colonial Revival style used for an institutional building. It was designed by J. William Beal and Sons and retains integrity of design, location, feeling and association. It meets Criteria A and C at the local level.
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 89001348, listed September 20, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1218--1222 Hancock St., Quincy |
|---|---|
| County | Norfolk County |
| Listed | September 20, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001348 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | J. William Beal and Sons |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is stated as good; present use is offices and retail stores. Storefronts were restored and a rear third-floor section added in a 1985-86 renovation. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 42.25266, -71.00414 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 89001348.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5364383
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.