Mountainville Grange Hall (Additional Documentation)
Also known as: Cornwall Masonic Temple
Why it's listed
Built in 1904 on Route 32 in Cornwall, Orange County, this two-story frame building served as the hall of the Mountainville Grange, a farmers' organization founded locally in December 1902. It has a gable front, a stone foundation, clapboard and shingle walls, and a one-story porch with square Doric columns. Inside, a kitchen and dining hall occupy the first floor, while a meeting hall and stage fill the second. Original floor plan, hardwood floors, woodwork, doors and staircase survive. The hall hosted meetings on agricultural concerns and community events until the 1960s, then became an antiques store in the 1970s. Masons bought it in 1980 and continue to use it as a meeting hall. It was listed for its architecture as an intact local example of a traditional rural grange hall, and it also reflects the lasting role of farming in the area in the early twentieth century.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is an intact, representative example of a traditional rural grange hall in the town of Cornwall, with its original plan and interior features. It also reflects the continuing importance of agriculture in Cornwall into the early twentieth century and the revival of the Grange movement in that period.
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 96000557, listed June 3, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NY 32, S of jct. with Creamery Rd., Cornwall |
|---|---|
| County | Orange County |
| Listed | June 3, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96000557 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca.1904 |
| Architectural style | Early 20th Century Revivals / Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Now used as a Masonic hall (Cornwall Masonic Temple); a lodge letter describes it as restored and in very good condition. |
| Acreage | 0.56 |
| Coordinates | 41.40026, -74.07909 (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 96000557.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6925740
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.