GAR Building
Why it's listed
Built of gray limestone in Lykens, the two-story hall was begun in 1850 and dedicated in 1852 as a Methodist church, with Richard Nolen credited as builder and stonemason. Its cut stone front has a gable roof with a box cornice, a cornice return with brackets, and a double-door entrance under a spindle-decorated cornice. The interior has wainscoting on both floors. From 1853 to 1867 it also hosted Lutheran and Presbyterian congregations. Later it served as a residence, an armory for the state military board, a fire company hall and a meeting place for Civil War veterans of Heilner Post #232 of the Grand Army of the Republic from 1898. The Heilner Women's Relief Corps also used it and erected a memorial marker in front. During the 1918 influenza epidemic it was used as a hospital. Because it held town meetings, civic clubs and scout groups for decades, it is regarded as an important community gathering place in Lykens.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building served a range of community functions for most of its history, including church services, town meetings, fire company quarters, a veterans' meeting place and a women's relief organization's headquarters. It was described as the only public meeting place in Lykens for seven decades after it was built, and it is regarded as the oldest social center building in the borough.
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 86003453, listed November 5, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 626--628 N. Second St., Lykens |
|---|---|
| County | Dauphin County |
| Listed | November 5, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86003453 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1850-1852 |
| Architect / builder | Richard Nolen (builder/stonemason) |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a senior citizens' center; renovated in 1985 with interior and exterior painting and electrical upgrades. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 40.56790, -76.69993 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 86003453.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5512875
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.