I.O.O.F. Lodge - Corsicana Commercial Historic District - Corsicana, TX
Posted by: 
WalksfarTX
N 32° 05.779 W 096° 27.939
14S E 739165 N 3553923
A three story Italianate brick building circa 1900.
Waymark Code: WMXK51
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 01/22/2018
Views: 0
NRHP Nomination Form
The intricate Italianate detailing on this imposing 3-story brick building establishes it as one of Corsicana's outstanding examples of Victorian era architectural design.
Built between 1894 and 1900, the stacked vertical block form incorporated retail space on the ground floor with meeting space for a fraternal organization above. The building initially housed T.G. Brooks' agricultural implements store on the first and second floors, with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Hall occupying the third floor (Sanborn Map Company, 1900).
An important community institution, the local chapter had garnered support for establishing the national I.O.O.F. Widows and Orphans Home at Corsicana in 1885. The lodge continued to meet on the top floor of the building for many years, although the ground floor hosted a variety of occupants during the 1930s and 1940s, including Sowell Brothers Groceries and the Shipp and Bunch grocery store (Corsicana City Directory, 1941).
The superb craftsmanship of its Italianate detailing distinguish this building as one of the most significant examples of commercial architecture in the city.