Hobart Masonic Hall
Also known as: Hobart Historical Center
Why it's listed
Built in 1889 at 6 Cornell Avenue in Hobart, this two-and-one-half-story wood-frame hall was erected for St. Andrew's Lodge, F. & A. M., a Masonic body first chartered in 1796 and among the earliest in Delaware County. The lodge had earlier met in private homes, a school and rented rooms before buying land in 1887 and financing its own building through member loans and a Masonic Fair. The hall cost $2,132.29 and was most likely built by members. Its Stick style design includes a steep cross-gabled roof, decorative vergeboards and gables ornamented with applied wooden hammer, ruler, square, trowel and anchor symbols. Inside, a large second-floor lodge room keeps original oak furniture, carved Masonic symbols on the moldings and grain-painted doors. The ground floor was rented out and has been altered, but the building otherwise retains strong integrity. It is valued as an intact example of a rural Masonic lodge and of Stick style design.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant in social history and architecture as a representative, intact example of a Masonic lodge in Delaware County and a distinctive example of Stick style design. It was built for one of the county's earliest lodges, chartered in 1796. The applied wooden Masonic tool ornamentation in the front gable is noted as especially noteworthy.
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 01001399, listed December 28, 2001. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 6 Cornell Ave., Hobart |
|---|---|
| County | Delaware County |
| Listed | December 28, 2001 |
| Reference number | 01001399 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1889 |
| Architect / builder | unknown (most likely built by lodge members) |
| Architectural style | Stick Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Social History, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Now used as the Hobart Historical Center (library/education use); the first floor has non-historic alterations but the building retains an outstanding level of integrity. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.37298, -74.66671 (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 01001399.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5874728
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.