Polo Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge No. 197

The Polo Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge No. 197, located at 117 W. Mason St. in Polo, Illinois, is a historic building constructed between 1901 and 1902. Designed by architects Charles Wyman Bradley and Frank A. Carpenter in the Classical Revival style, this brick structure features distinct architectural elements such as three bays separated by pilasters, an egg-and-dart frame, and a parapet with a corbelled pediment. The lodge served as a meeting place for the Odd Fellows, a fraternal organization established in 1856, until the 1990s, while the ground floor has been used for commercial purposes. The building was recognized for its historical significance and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004, making it an interesting site for tourists and researchers interested in local history and architecture.