The Ladies of the Maccabees Building is a fraternal organization building, located at 901 Huron Avenue in

Port Huron, Michigan Port Huron is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of St. Clair County. The population was 30,184 at the 2010 census. The city is adjacent to Port Huron Township but is administered separately. Located along the St. Clair ...

. It was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

in 1982.

History

The Knights of the Maccabees, a

fraternal organization A fraternity (from Latin ''frater'': "brother"; whence, "brotherhood") or fraternal organization is an organization, society, club or fraternal order traditionally of men associated together for various religious or secular aims. Fraternity in ...

, was organized in 1878, and re-organized in 1881 as the "Knights of the Modern Maccabees". The Ladies of the Maccabees (L.O.T.M.) were organized in 1886 as an auxiliary of the organization. The Ladies of the Modern Maccabees (L.O.T.M.M.) grew over the next decade, and severed ties with the men's organization in 1902. In 1906, the organization hired architect George L. Harvey to design this building for use as their headquarters. By 1912, the order had over 51,000 members. In 1926, the Ladies of the Maccabees merged with the men, with the combined organization known simply as the Maccabees. In 1928, the organization moved their headquarters from Port Huron to the newly built Maccabees Building in Detroit. The organization sold the Ladies of the Maccabees Building in Port Huron to the local Board of Education, and it was used to house the Port Huron Junior College until 1957. The building was then used for Board of Education administrative offices until 1981, when it was purchased by a group of attorneys for office space.

Description

The Ladies of the Maccabees Building is a square plan, the

Classical Revival Neoclassical architecture is an architectural style produced by the Neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century in Italy and France. It became one of the most prominent architectural styles in the Western world. The prevailing style ...

building with rusticated foundation, smooth limestone walls, and a low pitched roof with a shallow dome atop. A cornice an parapet wall encircles the building. Each facade is symmetrical, with a slightly projecting central pavilion. The main facade has a two-story portico containing four Corinthian columns, sheltering a double-door entryway. All windows are large, one-over-one double-hung units, with elaborate surrounds. The interior has a central grand staircase which leads upward three stories to the dome. The lobby surrounding the stair has a decorative tile floor, and is decorated with Corinthian columns and pilasters. The trim throughout the building is oak.

References

{{National Register of Historic Places Port Huron, Michigan National Register of Historic Places in St. Clair County, Michigan Neoclassical architecture in Michigan Buildings and structures completed in 1906 1906 establishments in Michigan Ladies of the Maccabees Michigan State Historic Sites in St. Clair County