Jerusalem District No. 5 Schoolhouse
Also known as: Old Jerusalem Schoolhouse
Why it's listed
Built in 1876 as a one-room schoolhouse for the rural district of Jerusalem on Long Island, this building was enlarged around 1920 with a two-room, center-hall addition across the front, giving it a T-shaped plan. The 1876 section keeps its clapboard siding, belfry with original bell, stamped metal ceiling and stove chimney. The addition has cedar shingle siding, a hipped roof and simple Colonial Revival detailing. Its windows, blackboards, interior lavatories and side doors reflect state school design rules in place since 1904. The school served as the only school for the district until 1947, when Levitt and Sons began building thousands of houses around it and enrollment grew far beyond its capacity. It later served as an annex and is now vacant. It is one of roughly fifteen structures left from old Jerusalem, and it is valued both as a rural school design and as a reminder of the pre-Levittown community.
Significance in brief: The building is a largely intact, representative example of early twentieth-century rural school architecture, shaped by State Education Department design requirements in force since 1904. It is also one of the few tangible remnants of the rural community of Jerusalem, which was overtaken by Levitt and Sons housing developments after 1947. It is locally significant in architecture and education.
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 96000204, listed March 1, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Old Jerusalem Rd., Levittown |
|---|---|
| County | Nassau County |
| Listed | March 1, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96000204 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1876-c.1947 |
| Architectural style | OTHER/rural schoolhouse; c.1920 addition vaguely Colonial Revival in style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Education |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacant and not in use; the form says it has stood vacant for the past few years. It is also a Town of Hempstead landmark. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 40.70224, -73.50697 (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 96000204.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6185139
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.