Masonic Lodge #472
Why it's listed
Rising three stories at 18 Commercial Street in Zaleski, this brick and sandstone building was the tallest in Vinton County when completed in 1884 and, according to the nomination, still is. Local Masons bought the lot in 1881 from the Zaleski Mining Company, and the Stuart Company of Chillicothe built it. Each floor served a different purpose: a store on the ground level, an auditorium called Lyceum Hall on the second floor, and the Masonic Lodge and Eastern Star meeting rooms on the third. Lyceum Hall hosted plays, dances, commencements and religious services. Ernest Fischer bought the building in 1895 for commercial use, and the Fischer family ran a general store there until 1940. The Masons stayed on the third floor until 1991. The building reflects the prosperity of Zaleski during the iron industry era, when the town was the largest in the county. It is now unoccupied and has been altered, but the second floor auditorium remains largely intact.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building reflects the development of the Hanging Rock iron industry region and Zaleski's prosperous period. It combined commercial, cultural and social functions under one roof, with a store, a theater and auditorium, and a Masonic lodge hall. It is nominated under Criterion A in the areas of social history and entertainment/recreation.
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 00000182, listed March 9, 2000. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 18 Commercial St., Zaleski |
|---|---|
| County | Vinton County |
| Listed | March 9, 2000 |
| Reference number | 00000182 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1884-1949 |
| Architect / builder | The Stuart Company - Chillicothe, Ohio |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian/Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Social History, Entertainment/Recreation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as presently unoccupied, with vandalism to windows, though the building has been secured. The form lists current function as vacant/not in use. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.28218, -82.39360 (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.
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 00000182.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6783699
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.