Athol High School
Also known as: Athol Regional Junior High School
Why it's listed
Athol High School is a flat-roofed, H-plan brick building on a slight rise along School Street, south of the Millers River and about half a mile from downtown Athol. Its two side wings date to 1915 and were once attached to an 1892 school, which was demolished in 1937 to make way for a new central block and a rear gymnasium. The 1937 work, designed by J. Williams Beal and Sons and built by Leland B. Taylor, gave the whole building an Art Deco character, with limestone trim, a stepped parapet, carved geometric floral motifs and panels of black and blue brick. Inside, central corridors serve classrooms on two floors above a raised basement, and a two-story gymnasium and auditorium occupies the northeast corner. A low granite wall and concrete-tie retaining walls also contribute. The school is recognized for its role in local education and for its architecture, with a period of significance of 1915 to 1960. It is currently vacant, and reuse as apartments is proposed.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant for its role in Athol's public education and as an example of Art Deco school architecture. The 1937 central section and additions were designed by J. Williams Beal and Sons, and the 1915 wings were designed by Funk and Wilcox. The building retains integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship and feeling.
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 11000022, listed February 18, 2011. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 494 School St, Athol |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | February 18, 2011 |
| Reference number | 11000022 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1915-1960 |
| Architect / builder | Funk and Wilcox (1915); J. Williams Beal and Sons (1937); Leland B. Taylor, builder (1937) |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Education |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current function is listed as vacant/not in use; the text also describes plans to reuse the building, including the gymnasium space, for apartments. |
| Acreage | 2.1 |
| Coordinates | 42.59651, -72.21995 (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 11000022.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16896113
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.