Smithfield Masonic Lodge
Also known as: Brooks Building
Why it's listed
Built around 1854 by Masonic Lodge No. 84, this two-story frame building on North Second Street in Smithfield is a vernacular Greek Revival lodge. It has a pedimented gable front, a bracketed frieze, and corner pilasters on plinths. Inside, the second-floor ceremonial hall keeps its elliptical vaulted ceiling, and original pine floors and door and window trim survive. Around 1915 the building was moved to its present site by Judge F.H. Brooks, who altered the entrances and stairs and used the first floor as a law office. From 1917 to 1933 the Smithfield Woman's Club met upstairs and operated the town's first free public library there. The Masons stayed until 1940. Later changes in the 1960s were removed during a 2006 rehabilitation that restored the exterior and the second-floor plan. It was listed as Smithfield's best mid-nineteenth-century Greek Revival building and for its role in social history and education.
Significance in brief: The building is argued to be Smithfield's best mid-nineteenth-century Greek Revival building, with a pedimented three-bay facade, bracketed frieze, pilasters and an intact elliptical-vault Masonic hall. It is also significant for its use by the Smithfield Woman's Club, which ran the town's first public library from the second floor, linking it to the early twentieth-century public library movement.
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 07001012, listed September 28, 2007. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 115 N. Second St., Smithfield |
|---|---|
| County | Johnston County |
| Listed | September 28, 2007 |
| Reference number | 07001012 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1854; c. 1917 to 1933 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | Mid-Nineteenth Century/Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Education, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Rehabilitated in 2006 after being donated to the Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation in 2004; the form lists current function as work in progress. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Within district | North Smithfield Historic District |
| Coordinates | 35.51449, -78.34716 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 07001012.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q23073729
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.