Hornbine School
Why it's listed
Built in 1862 at 144 Hornbine Road in southeastern Rehoboth, this modest one-story clapboard building is a typical eight-grade, one-room schoolhouse of the 19th century. Its three-bay gable end faces the street, and a stove chimney rises at the opposite end. It is regarded as the best preserved mid-19th century schoolhouse in town. Known as District #10 School until districts were abolished in 1883, it was one of fifteen one-room district schools in Rehoboth. It was the last of them to close, in 1937. The building was later sold and altered as a residence, then deteriorated. In 1968, during the town's 325th anniversary, a local association bought and restored it and turned it over to the town as a museum. The school and the Hornbine Baptist Church face each other across a small curving intersection that has changed little since about 1900, adding to the value of the setting.
Significance in brief: It is described as an archetypical 19th century eight-grade one-room schoolhouse and the best preserved mid-19th century schoolhouse in Rehoboth. It was the last of the town's district schools to close, in 1937, and its restoration reflects the town's commitment to public education. It also forms a historic pairing with the Hornbine Baptist Church across the road.
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 83000679, listed June 6, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 144 Hornbine Road, Rehoboth |
|---|---|
| County | Bristol County |
| Listed | June 6, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83000679 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Sold and modified as a residence around 1940, later deteriorated from disuse, restored in 1968 and now used as a museum. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.79829, -71.20138 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 83000679.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5904071
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.