Clymer District School No. 5
Also known as: Clymer Center Schoolhouse No. 5
Why it's listed
This one-room rural schoolhouse on Clymer Center Road in Chautauqua County, New York, was built about 1853 by local carpenter-joiner Rinaldo Braman, who carved his initials above the entrance. It replaced an earlier log school on the same lot. The frame building is clad in red clapboard, rests on a rubble stone foundation, and shows vernacular Greek Revival details such as dentils, gable returns and a carved anthemion. Inside, a single classroom and vestibule survive with blackboards, wainscoting, a wood stove and desks from about 1880. A wood shed with a girls' privy was added around 1870. Trustees' records from 1868 to 1936 document later improvements such as new windows, a sink, wells, electric lights and a hardwood floor. The school served the district for eighty-six years, with lower grades attending until 1939. It was listed as a rare, well-preserved example of a mid-nineteenth century country school and as a reminder of public education in the town.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a rare, highly intact example of a mid-nineteenth century rural schoolhouse in the western southern tier of New York. It shows vernacular Greek Revival detailing and retains alterations made under later school reform movements. It also reflects the importance of public education in the farming community of Clymer.
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 94001004, listed August 29, 1994. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 7929 Clymer Center Rd. (Co. Rt. 613), Clymer |
|---|---|
| County | Chautauqua County |
| Listed | August 29, 1994 |
| Reference number | 94001004 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1853-1939 |
| Architect / builder | Rinaldo Braman, Builder |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a museum on summer weekends and for tutoring and community events; not in use November to March. Closed as a school in 1939, then used for farm storage and as an art studio before restoration. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.05468, -79.58225 (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 94001004.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5137105
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.