Elks Club
Why it's listed
Built in 1916 at 139 West Fifth Street, this three-story brick lodge building has served the Elks of East Liverpool for most of the twentieth century. The local Elks organized in 1893 with 30 charter members and met in several places before the building was completed. It was designed by Holmboe and Lafferty, architects who specialized in clubhouse design, built by Kerr Lumber Co. of East Liverpool, and furnished by Joseph Horne Co. of Pittsburgh. Its Colonial Revival styling includes a large three-story portico with Corinthian columns, classical entrance detailing and a cornice with modillion blocks. The lodge room on the third floor at the rear is unaltered. The building sits close to the street on the western edge of the central business district and is noted as a visual landmark. It was listed for its social and cultural role among the city's fraternal organizations and as a well-preserved example of classically inspired early twentieth century architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is an almost entirely unaltered example of neo-classical architecture used for early 20th century public and institutional buildings. It is also significant as the home, for most of the century, of one of East Liverpool's major fraternal lodges. It is described as a prominent visual landmark on the edge of the central business district.
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 85003512, listed November 14, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 139 W. Fifth St., East Liverpool |
|---|---|
| County | Columbiana County |
| Listed | November 14, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85003512 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architects Holmboe & Lafferty (New York City and Clarksburg, W. Va.); builder Kerr Lumber Co., East Liverpool |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival / neo-classical |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Exterior in good condition; still used as the Elks Club and described as virtually unaltered; interior condition unknown. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | East Liverpool Downtown Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.61981, -80.58152 (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 85003512.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5364387
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.