Royse City Lodge No. 663 A.F. & A.M.
Also known as: Royse City City Hall
Why it's listed
Completed in 1925, this two-story brick building at 102 South Arch Street in Royse City was built for the local Masonic Lodge, which had met in various places since 1888. Architect W.A. Kimzey designed it with Mission Revival influences, including a large arched parapet with cast concrete coping and truncated corner towers with brick pilasters. J.E. Harris of Royse City built it. Financial trouble during the 1930s led the Lodge to lease the first floor to the city in 1936 for municipal offices and a fire and police station. In 1941 the city bought the first floor, and the Lodge kept the second. The building remains in shared use today as city hall and lodge meeting space. It is considered the most substantial and intact property in the town's business district, and one of few designed by a professional architect. Some alterations were made to the interior and exterior, but the original room layout and pressed tin ceilings survive.
Significance in brief: The building is the most substantial and intact property in Royse City's central business district and one of the few architect-designed buildings in the community. It shows Mission Revival influences, which are unusual locally. It also has a dual role: since 1936 the city has used the first floor as city hall, fire and police station, while the Masonic Lodge uses the second floor.
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 94001242, listed October 28, 1994. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 102 S. Arch St., Royse City |
|---|---|
| County | Rockwall County |
| Listed | October 28, 1994 |
| Reference number | 94001242 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1925-1944 |
| Architect / builder | Kimzey, W.A. (architect); Harris, J.E. (builder) |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and Early 20th Century Revivals: Mission Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Social History, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use for community activities and city government; the Masonic Lodge and Eastern Star hold monthly activities on the second floor and the city uses the rest of the building. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.97504, -96.33083 (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.
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 94001242.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q54871532
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.