Lincoln, Abraham, Elementary School
Why it's listed
Abraham Lincoln Elementary School, at 1200 N. Gordon Avenue in central Pomona, was built in 1936 on the site of the earlier Garey School. Bricks from the old school were reused in the schoolyard wall along the south and east edges of the grounds. The single-story building follows a modified cruciform plan, with ten classrooms, a kindergarten, an auditorium, offices and a cafeteria. Its orientation allows natural ventilation, and air conditioning has never been needed. Designed by Pasadena architect Sylvanus Marston in the Spanish Colonial Revival style, it has a tile roof, stucco walls, a bell tower, arched auditorium windows and low-relief Doric details at the entry. It is the only Spanish Colonial Revival school remaining in Pomona and is still used as a school. Original maple floors, woodwork, light fixtures and telephones survive. Its quality of design and unusually intact condition made it locally significant for architecture.
Significance in brief: It is significant locally under Criterion C as a very good example of a Spanish Colonial Revival school, and the only such school building remaining in Pomona. It was designed by Pasadena architect Sylvanus Marston, a leading practitioner of the style. It retains more original character and integrity than any other building in the school district.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 89000935, listed August 3, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1200 N. Gordon Ave., Pomona |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | August 3, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000935 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1936 |
| Architect / builder | Marston, Sylvanus B. |
| Architectural style | Late 19th-20th Century Revivals: Spanish Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as an elementary school; the oldest school facility in the district still used as a school. Six portable classroom buildings added between 1956 and 1987 are non-contributing. |
| Acreage | 3.8 |
| Coordinates | 34.07021, -117.75299 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 89000935.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.