Tarklin School
Also known as: School No. 4; Sunnyside; Tar Kiln School; Twin Schools; Tarkiln Youth Center
Why it's listed
Tarkiln School is a single-story clapboarded schoolhouse on a 5.75-acre lot at a rural crossroads in western Duxbury, Massachusetts. Its oldest part, a one-room school with Greek Revival form and Italianate window brackets, was built in 1871 after years of town debate over replacing the earlier schoolhouse. A close copy was added to the north in 1908, a connecting hallway followed in 1926, and a kitchen wing in 1951. Inside, chestnut wainscoting, pressed tin ceilings and seven-panel doors survive. The school later served as a community center, and the grounds hold ball fields, tennis courts and a small memorial park. The building is owned by the town and is described as in generally good condition but currently not in use. It was listed because it reflects the post-Civil War push to improve public education, even in small rural neighborhoods, and because it remains only slightly altered from its period of significance, 1871 to 1959.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the school as a physical reminder of the educational reform and social change that followed the Civil War, even in isolated Massachusetts hamlets. It also records the town's long delay and resistance to replacing the old schoolhouse, and the building's later use as a community center. The building is little altered from its period of significance and retains many original interior features.
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 09000647, listed August 26, 2009. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 245 Summer St., Duxbury |
|---|---|
| County | Plymouth County |
| Listed | August 26, 2009 |
| Reference number | 09000647 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1871-1959 |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century: Greek Revival; Late Victorian: Italianate |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Education, Entertainment/Recreation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the Town of Duxbury, generally in good condition and only slightly altered; listed as vacant/not in use in the current-function entry. |
| Acreage | 5.7 |
| Coordinates | 42.03559, -70.74040 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 09000647.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16934015
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.