North Star Lodge No. 241 and Warren, PA, History

May 9, 2026 - Joseph C. McClellan 

(Thanks to research from Ryan D. Knopf, PDDGM & Warren County Historical Society)

First Stop: 213 Liberty Street

Fifth Meeting Place of North Star 241 - Decided to purchase this building on November 16, 1911 after the building suffered a fire. First meeting was held at this location on September 18, 1913. The lodge moved here from the Library Theatre, which caused consternation as they had a 99 year lease agreement with SLT that had begun in 1884. To get out of the lease they agreed to a one time fee of $2,000 which is the 2026 equivalent of almost $67,000! The lodge would meet here until 2010.

Second Stop: 302 Third Ave - Struthers Library Theatre

Fourth Meeting Place of North Star 241 - The Theatre was built in 1883 and North Star Lodge along with Occidental Chapter 235 worked together to secure accommodations in the planned building. The lease was signed on May 1, 1884. The 50th anniversary of the lodge was celebrated here. In 2023, the lodge thoroughly investigated moving back in but negotiations proved unsuccessful.

Third Stop: 224 Liberty - Jackson-Sill House

Built in 1830, this building has seen many businesses over the years: medicine making, jigsaw puzzle making, photography studio…currently host to small businesses still.

Fourth Stop: 301 Market St - Falconer-Smith-Borger House

Built in 1866 for Patrick Falconer, nephew of Robert Falconer, one of Warren’s most prominent residents. Both men moved to Warren from Scotland. A house belonging to Isaac Eddy at this location was moved to the rear of the lot to make room for Falconer’s new home in 1866. 

Fifth Stop: 307 Market - Scofield House

Built in 1890 for Archibald Tanner Scofield, the grandson of Archibald Tanner, one of Warren’s earliest prominent citizens who was a warrant member of North Star Lodge 241 in 1850! Mr. Scofield was an oil producer. The heirs moved away in the 1920s and since the 1940s it has been sectioned into apartments.

Sixth Stop: 311 Market - Jamieson House

Mr. H. A. Jamieson started the building of his home in 1874. When it was nearly finished, tragedy hit on January 12, 1874, when a fire built by the plasterers in a cellar stove to thaw frozen mortar grew too large and spread throughout the building. The house, having cost $12,000 to $14,000 already, was rebuilt and nearly completed by October 1875. Mr. Jamieson installed a 125-barrel water tank in the attic, keeping in mind the need of water he had experienced during the re because of Warren’s lack of city water. In 1938, it was divided into apartments and offices.

*Across the street - 310 Market - Woman's Club of Warren

The Woman's Club was founded in 1913 because the Conewango Club was for men only. The building was a home built for Myron Waters in 1872. It was acquired by the Woman's Club in 1922 and in 1924 a 500 seat auditorium was added.

Seventh Stop: 312 Market - Mead-Shear House

Built by Boon Mead in 1868. In 1897, the house was sold to a Warren clothing businessman, David Shear, who lived there until 1908 when he retired and moved to New York City. Captain Ulysses Grant Lyons, the succeeding owner, worked at the Conewango Refining Company and was in charge of oil procurement for the United States government during World War I. The house was sold to Clyde Smith in 1927 by the Warren National Bank after Lyons drowned in a boating accident. Smith’s plans to replace the house with a gas station were thwarted by public opinion, and the building was sold in 1929 to the First Church of Christ, Scientist. 

Eighth Stop: 204 Market - Warren County Courthouse

1876 - Equipped with a clock made-to-order in New York and a 1600-pound bell from Cincinnati, the courthouse tower also featured a statue of Justice raised in 1877, 125 feet from the ground. However, recent renovations have placed the original statue in the main entryway, while a berglass replica stands atop the structure.

Ninth Stop: 210 Fourth Ave - Warren County Historical Society

Finished in 1873, by Thomas Struthers, after the death of his son in 1871, who was building the house. He gave the house to his daughter as a wedding gift. In 1950, it was sold to the County and became the Courthouse Annex. In 1964, the Commissioners gave the Historical Society the space.

Tenth Stop: 215 Fourth Ave - Mansion House

Built in 1833 as the Warren Hotel (and tavern),  it shortly became a bank which failed. It was purchased by Archibald Tanner in 1837 and had a long life as a hotel/tavern, especially for judges, juries, witnesses traveling, etc,, until being converted into apartments.

Eleventh Stop: 214 Fourth Ave - Noyes-Donaldson House

Front section of this home could be as old as 1828, one of the older houses in this section. 

Twelfth Stop: 318 Liberty - Brown-Citro House

Built in 1868, by Judge Rasselas Brown, it was noted as the first house built here with a brick facade and framed interior. It had the first and only slated roof in the town. 

Thirteenth Stop: 500 PA Avenue West - Liberty Tree

Planted on September 24, 2024 by brothers Ryan D. Knopf, PDDGM, and Joseph C. McClellan. In the years leading up to the American Revolution, large Liberty Trees were used as symbolic meeting places for “the Sons of Liberty” throughout the 13 colonies. Seedlings from the last remaining tree in Annapolis, Maryland, have produced descendants that have been planted throughout Pennsylvania. All 67 plantings were sponsored by the Grand Lodge of PA.

Fourteenth Stop: 350 PA Avenue West - Tanner Building and Oddfellows Hall

In 1871 the lodge found its third home in the Tanner building on the third floor. 

The Oddfellows Hall, located above Snuffy’s, would serve as the sixth meeting place of the lodge after moving out of the Liberty Street location in 2010.

Fifteenth Stop: Northwest Plaza and Fountain, 2nd and PA Avenue

The original meeting place of North Star Lodge 241 was in a building at this location. The Watson-Davis building was a hardware store and the Sons of Temperance Hall. In 1855, the lodge moved into its second meeting space: The Oddfellows Hall; same building, same floor!