Pearl Street School
Why it's listed
Pearl Street School is a two-story red brick building at 75 Pearl Street in Reading, completed in 1939. Its design mixes Colonial Revival, Classical Revival and Art Deco elements, including a modillion cornice, brick quoins, 12/12 wood windows, patterned entry surrounds and tile-lined corridors. It sits on a 4.86-acre lot on the site of the former town almshouse, or Poor Farm, whose 1818 farmhouse was razed after the school was built. The school was the first new elementary school in Reading in 50 years and the town's only building funded by the Public Works Administration, which paid 45 percent of the cost. With 15 classrooms and an auditorium, it was fire-resistant and replaced three wooden schools, bringing 413 students together. It closed as a school in 1984 and later housed tenants, including a senior center, and is now used as multiple dwellings.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant for its role in developing Reading's education system and as the town's only structure funded through the Public Works Administration. It was the first new elementary school built in Reading in 50 years and consolidated students from three older wooden schools. It meets Criterion A at the local level.
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 97000496, listed May 30, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 75 Pearl St., Reading |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | May 30, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97000496 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1939-1946 |
| Architect / builder | Sidebottom, George H., architect; Frankini Construction Company, builder |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, Classical Revival, Art Deco |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Education |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | School closed in June 1984; space was later leased to tenants including a senior center, and the current function is listed as multiple dwelling. |
| Acreage | 4.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.53077, -71.09849 (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 97000496.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14715810
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.