The French Empire Mansard Building was constructed by James Simpson, a well known builder who constructed several other large buildings, in 1883 to house the new lodge hall for the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

The large two story building was constructed of brick with an imposing two story entrance pavilion bordered by specially formed iron columns.

This is Eureka's finest example of Second Empire architecture.

Excerpted from the NRHP Nomination.

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.) is an altruistic fraternal organization derived from the similar English Oddfellows service organizations which came into being during the 1700s....Although in Britain the Odd Fellows tended to meet in pubs, in the U.S. the lodges often built their own facilities. Many of these are now on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places....

From Wikipedia entry for Independent Order of Odd Fellows

Historic IOOF Buildings in California

Arbuckle, Arroyo Grande, Big Oak Flat, Colusa, Copperopolis (1874-1903), Copperopolis (1903-1939), Coulterville, Etna, Eureka, Farmington, Ferndale, Forest Hill, Galt, Georgetown, Geyserville, Hanford, Jenny Lind, Knights Ferry, La Grange, Live Oak, Mokelumne Hill, Murphys, Nevada City, Oakdale, Orland, Point Arena, Quincy, Red Bluff, Roseville, Sebastopol, Snelling, Truckee, Wheatland, Woodbridge, Woodland, Yreka

Historic IOOF Buildings in Nevada

Austin, Gardnerville, Nevada, Yerington

Historic IOOF Buildings in Oregon

Ashland, Coquille, Gold Hill, Klamath Falls

Historic IOOF Buildings in Utah

Beaver, Milford