Grand Army of the Republic Hall
Also known as: Hartsuff, Gen. George L., Post No. 74
Why it's listed
Built in 1899 at the corner of School and Blanchard Streets in Rockland, Massachusetts, this wood-framed Queen Anne hall served as the home of General George L. Hartsuff Post #74 of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Civil War veterans' organization. Local builder William Harrison Hebberd designed and constructed it with a granite foundation, clapboard siding, a steep hipped roof and a columned entrance porch. Inside, a second-floor meeting hall with a stage is lit by stained glass windows donated by community groups, military companies and individuals, each bearing a unique patriotic design and the names of donors. Rockland's shoe factories supplied footwear for much of the Union army, and shoe-industry wealth helped pay for the hall. The Women's Relief Corps organized the effort to build a permanent home for the post after years of meeting in rented rooms. Two Civil War cannons flank the front walk. The building has changed little since construction.
Significance in brief: The hall is tied to Civil War veterans' fraternal life in Rockland, a shoe-manufacturing town whose factories supplied footwear to the Union army. It was funded by local donors and the Women's Relief Corps for Post #74. It also retains original Queen Anne exterior and interior features, including donated stained glass windows.
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 97000438, listed May 16, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 34 School St., Rockland |
|---|---|
| County | Plymouth County |
| Listed | May 16, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97000438 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1899 - 1946 |
| Architect / builder | Hebberd, William Harrison |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as little altered since 1899 but in slow decline over the prior ten years, needing maintenance and modest repair; windows covered with wire mesh and some with plywood. Still used for meetings and gatherings. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.12686, -70.91391 (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 97000438.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5594260
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.