West Paris Lodge No. 15, I.O.O.F. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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West Paris Lodge No. 15, I.O.O.F.
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | 221 Main Street, West Paris, Maine |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1876-80 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 11001058 |
| Added to NRHP | January 27, 2012 |
The West Paris Lodge No. 15, I.O.O.F. is an old building in West Paris, Maine. It was built between 1876 and 1880. A group called the International Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) used it as their meeting place. They met there until the 1980s. This building was also important for community events. Today, the local historical society owns it. In 2012, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is a special historical site.
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About the West Paris IOOF Lodge Building
The West Paris IOOF Lodge building is a two-story structure. It is made of wood and has a pointed roof. The outside walls are covered with clapboard siding. Its foundation is made from both granite and brick. A smaller part of the building extends from the back.
Building Style and Outside Look
The building has a style called Italianate. This means it has decorative parts like paired brackets under the roof. These brackets are also along the edges of the roof. There are flat columns, called pilasters, at the corners. The front of the building faces northwest. It has two windows on each main floor. A fifth window is in the pointed part of the roof. This top window has a triangle shape above it. Inside the triangle is a plaque with the year "1876" written on it.
The main entrance is between the windows on the first floor. It has double doors. A small roof, called a hood, covers these doors. This hood is held up by decorative brackets. Another smaller door is near the right corner. This door leads directly to the second floor. It was used by members of the Odd Fellows group.
Inside the Lodge Hall
The first floor of the building has a small entrance area. From there, you can find a kitchen. There is also a large hall used for dining. This hall also has a stage. A staircase near the entrance leads to the basement. It also goes up to the second floor. The outside door also connects to this staircase.
The stairs lead to a landing. From this landing, a door with a small peephole opens into another small room. This room has storage areas on both sides. This setup was made to control who could enter the second floor. Only authorized members could go upstairs. This area still has items from the IOOF. These include pictures of their leaders and special clothing. The main meeting room on the second floor is now a museum. The historical society uses it for exhibits.
History of the West Paris IOOF Lodge
The lodge hall was built around 1880. A local builder named Silas Maxim constructed it. It is one of the largest public buildings in West Paris. The building was first used by two groups. These were the local chapter of the International Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) and the local Masonic chapter. The Masons later built their own hall next door in 1893.
Building Changes Over Time
The building was made longer in 1889. About 15 feet were added to its length. You can see this addition because the new part of the foundation is made of brick. This addition included the stage. Having a stage meant the hall could host plays and music shows. In 1986, the building was sold. The West Paris Historical Society bought it. They now use the hall as their office and a museum.
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