Niles Masonic Temple
Why it's listed
Four stories of wire-cut yellow brick rise on West Church Street in downtown Niles, Ohio, directly across from the McKinley Birthplace Memorial and park. Designed in 1922 by Warren architect Robert Keich and built by Hess and Noble, the Masonic temple was dedicated in September 1923. Its classical front has a rusticated lower level, jack arches with keystones, a Greek key belt course, a dentiled entablature and a gabled entry portico. Inside are a marble-floored lobby, a balconied ballroom with Corinthian pilasters, a basement dining room and recreation area, and a third-floor lodge room with an open-truss wooden ceiling. The building is notable as a Second Renaissance Revival work in a city whose early twentieth century downtown fabric has largely disappeared. Its mix of ritual space with social rooms reflects how Masonic lodges in the 1920s placed more weight on civic and community activity. Alterations have been limited to new doors, windows and an elevator.
Significance in brief: It is significant under Criterion C as an example of early twentieth century Second Renaissance Revival architecture in the industrial community of Niles. It is one of few remaining downtown buildings from that period of growth. Its plan, with ballroom, dining room, card and billiard rooms, reflects the 1920s shift of Freemasonry toward civic and social emphasis.
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 06000274, listed April 12, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 22 W. Church St., Niles |
|---|---|
| County | Trumbull County |
| Listed | April 12, 2006 |
| Reference number | 06000274 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1923 |
| Architect / builder | Keich, Robert / Hess & Noble |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and Early 20th Century Revivals (Second Renaissance Revival) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition except the front terrace, which needs immediate repair and is not currently used; the building retains a high degree of integrity. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.18192, -80.76623 (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.
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 06000274.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14716758
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.