G.A.R. Memorial Hall
Why it's listed
Standing on a half-acre parcel on Main Street in Hunt, in the Town of Portage, this one-story brick hall sits on a high basement under a gable roof, with its gable end facing the street. A Civil War-era Parrott rifle and a flagpole flank the front walk. Inside, a large main room with a small stage is lined with polished gray marble tablets naming local Civil War veterans who died in service. The hall grew out of a Soldiers' Monument Association formed in 1866. After years of debate, the funds raised were directed toward a building useful for town meetings and entertainments rather than a monument alone. Of 152 Portage men who served in the Union forces, 35 were killed in battle or died in Confederate prisons. Completed in 1880, the hall has hosted dinners, entertainments, veterans' group activities and town government meetings. It is valued as a largely intact multi-purpose community hall and as a memorial to the town's war effort.
Significance in brief: It is architecturally significant as a largely intact example of a multi-purpose community hall from the last quarter of the nineteenth century. It is historically significant for its link to the local Grand Army of the Republic chapter and for reflecting the town's contributions to the Union war effort. Its combined memorial and practical use anticipated a pattern later followed in larger cities.
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 06000888, listed September 28, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Main St., Hunt |
|---|---|
| County | Livingston County |
| Listed | September 28, 2006 |
| Reference number | 06000888 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1880-1956 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Entertainment/Recreation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a community hall; the town owns it and it continues to serve as a community focal point. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 42.54690, -77.99229 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 06000888.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5511984
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.