Eagles Temple
Why it's listed
Completed in 1918 as the Eagles Temple, this three-story building on East Market Street in Akron originally had a Neo-Classic Revival brick facade with a recessed porch and limestone Ionic columns. When the city widened East Market Street in 1930, the building had to be shortened by about five feet. Architects Kraus & Helmkamp redesigned the front in Art Deco style, replacing the columns with terra-cotta piers topped by stone eagles and adding geometric belt courses and roundels marked F.O.E. The nomination values it as one of Akron's best Art Deco examples. It also housed Akron Aerie No. 555, founded in 1904, which claimed a leading role in national drives for workers' compensation, old age pensions, widows' pensions and Social Security. During the Great Depression it served more than 70,000 free meals. The Eagles left the building in 1968, and it was vacant when nominated, with plans for restoration.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is one of Akron's best examples of Art Deco architecture. It was also the home of Akron Aerie No. 555, described as one of the first, largest and most socially conscious chapters of the national Eagles organization.
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 82003656, listed June 1, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 131-137 E. Market St., Akron |
|---|---|
| County | Summit County |
| Listed | June 1, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82003656 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | C. W & P Construction Co.; Boenisch, Kraus & Helmkamp, architects |
| Architectural style | Art Deco (1930 redesign of a 1918 Neo-Classic Revival building) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as unoccupied and vacant; the Eagles left in 1968. Developers intend to restore the 1930 look and remove the marquee, sign and billboards. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.08427, -81.51295 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
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 82003656.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5325372
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.