Highland School
Why it's listed
Highland School, at 64 Middlesex Avenue in Reading, is a two-story brick school on a high basement, built in 1896-97 for the Town of Reading to designs by Horace G. Wadlin. It sits on a corner plot atop a good-sized hill. Light-yellow brick marks the classroom floors, while the basement is dark red, and an egg-and-dart string course divides the two. Arched windows, granite keystones, a center pavilion with porte cochere and four large chimneys give it a distinctive profile, though towers and turrets were removed in the 1960s. The school served the growing Reading Highlands, an area opened by the 1873 depot and new streets. In 1902 it taught grades 4-8, and the junior high used its first floor from 1915 to 1927. Land and construction cost about $55,000. Described as Reading's most architecturally distinguished school, it reflects the importance the town placed on school buildings around 1900. School use ended in 1981.
Significance in brief: The nomination cites the school's role in the residential development of the Reading Highlands, its link to local architect Horace G. Wadlin, and its commanding presence in the neighborhood. It is also described as an excellent example of Second Renaissance Revival style and as Reading's architecturally most distinguished school building.
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 84002643, listed July 19, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 64 Middlesex Ave., Reading |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | July 19, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002643 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Horace G. Wadlin |
| Architectural style | Second Renaissance Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | School use was discontinued in 1981. Towers and turrets were removed in the 1960s. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 42.52605, -71.11039 (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 84002643.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14715536
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.