Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Hall
Also known as: City Hall, Memorial Hall; G.a.r.
Why it's listed
Built in 1892 at 401 Railroad Street in Ironton, Ohio, Memorial Hall was created as the meeting place for the Grand Army of the Republic's Post No. 165. Columbus architect Joseph Yost designed it in the Richardsonian Romanesque style, with rusticated buff Amherst stone, contrasting brick walls, round-arched windows, a recessed arched entrance and a prominent corner tower. A lightning strike and fire in 1905 gutted the building, and the interior and upper walls were rebuilt by local architect T.S. Murray, who echoed Yost's design. Over the decades the hall housed the public library, city offices, courts, a jail, and the American Legion. The city left in the mid-1990s, and a 2007 storm collapsed the rear roof and floors. The masonry exterior and tower foyer survive, and the hall remains the only Richardsonian Romanesque building in Ironton. The annual Memorial Day parade still forms in front of it.
Significance in brief: It is tied to the Grand Army of the Republic's Post No. 165 and later served as library, city hall, courts and veterans' headquarters. It is also the only Richardsonian Romanesque building left in Ironton, designed by prominent Ohio architect Joseph Yost and rebuilt after a 1905 fire.
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 12000801, listed September 19, 2012. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 401 Railroad St., Ironton |
|---|---|
| County | Lawrence County |
| Listed | September 19, 2012 |
| Reference number | 12000801 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1892-1954 |
| Architect / builder | Yost, Joseph; McLain, W.J.; Murray, T.S. |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian/Romanesque/Richardsonian Romanesque |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History, Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacant since the city moved out in the mid-1990s. The rear roof and interior collapsed after a 2007 storm, and a temporary steel-framed cover protects the building. The masonry shell is reported in excellent condition. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Coordinates | 38.53736, -82.68533 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 12000801.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5594264
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.