Johnson City Square Deal Arch
Why it's listed
Spanning Main Street, this classically inspired arch of cast stone blocks over a steel frame was built in 1920 as a ceremonial gateway between two villages. Its rusticated blocks, entablature, swag decoration and globe lights follow the pattern of the American welcome arch, and it carries the inscription 'The Home of the Square Deal.' Workers of the Endicott-Johnson shoe company paid for it, each giving $3, to thank employer George F. Johnson for a new profit sharing plan. A twin arch was built in Johnson City, and both were dedicated on 6 September 1920. Architect Arthur T. Lacey designed them, and village engineer Bert Booth supervised the Endicott arch. Bronze tablets bearing Johnson's likeness were removed in World War II so the metal could be reused. In 1995-96 the arch was widened to suit a wider road, using stones that replicate the originals. It remains a symbol of company-town community life and civic pride.
Significance in brief: The arch is significant in social history for its link to the Endicott-Johnson shoe company and its workers, who funded it to honor employer George F. Johnson after a profit sharing plan was introduced. It is also significant architecturally as an intact example of the early twentieth-century 'welcome arch' with classical features. It served as a symbolic gateway to company towns shaped by Johnson's 'Square Deal' welfare policies.
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 01000044, listed February 16, 2001. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Main St., W of Floral Ave., Johnson City |
|---|---|
| County | Broome County |
| Listed | February 16, 2001 |
| Reference number | 01000044 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1920 |
| Architect / builder | Arthur T. Lacey, architect; Bert Booth, builder |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Social History, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The arch was widened by nearly fifteen feet in 1995-96 for road widening, with new stones replicating the originals; the bronze tablets were removed in World War II and the original red, white and blue lights are gone. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.09490, -76.05704 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 01000044.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6268226
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.