Odd Fellows Hall and the Burlingame Block
Two names on this Water Street building reveal different chapters of its history. “Burlingame” identifies the commercial block, while “Odd Fellows Hall” recalls its association with a fraternal organization. Built around 1874, the three-story brick structure combined downtown business space with rooms above, bringing commercial and community activities together under one roof.
The building’s elaborate façade reflects the High Victorian Italianate style. Pale window surrounds contrast with the red brick, while paired arched windows and a projecting cornice give the upper stories a distinctive appearance. Its architectural quality earned it recognition among the outstanding buildings in Exeter’s Waterfront Commercial Historic District.
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows established its American organization in Baltimore in 1819. Guided by the principles of friendship, love and truth, the order developed a network of local lodges devoted to fellowship and charitable assistance. Helping the sick, supporting people in need and caring for orphans were central responsibilities. The hall’s prominent lettering preserves the memory of this tradition of organized mutual support.
The Burlingame Block also played a role in Exeter’s early telephone service. Around 1882, a telephone company began operating in its basement, with Maggie A. Noonan serving as operator. On March 26, 1883, the company recorded 65 incoming and outgoing calls—the largest daily total it had handled up to that time. That modest milestone captures a period when communication by telephone was still a new experience for the town.
The building brings several strands of Exeter’s history together: Victorian commercial architecture, fraternal fellowship and the arrival of modern communications. Its surviving names make those connections visible along Water Street, preserving reminders of the people and organizations that occupied downtown beyond its storefronts.
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