Stone Arabia School
Also known as: Stone Arabia Schoolhouse Museum
Why it's listed
Stone Arabia School, also called District Number 6, is a small clapboard schoolhouse on the north side of Route 31 in Cicero, built around 1854. It measures about 30 by 25 feet, with a vestibule wing and coal shed at the northeast corner. Greek Revival details include a stone foundation, wide wood water table, corner boards, cornice returns and side entablatures. Six-over-six windows on the sides appear original, while large multi-light windows on the front were probably added to bring in more daylight. Inside are beaded-board walls and ceiling, blackboards, an iron stove and a hardwood floor probably laid in the early twentieth century. The school taught local children until it closed in 1951. It was nearly moved to North Syracuse but was donated to the Cicero Historical Society, which runs it as a museum. It was listed for its intact architecture and its role in the town's education history. A two-door privy on the site also contributes.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is an outstanding example of a modest mid-19th-century Greek Revival one-room schoolhouse (Criterion C). It also qualifies under Criterion A because it served as a school from construction until it closed in 1951, and it retains a high degree of original character inside and out.
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 07000289, listed April 12, 2007. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 6453 NY 31, Cicero |
|---|---|
| County | Onondaga County |
| Listed | April 12, 2007 |
| Reference number | 07000289 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c.1854-1951 |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century: Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Education |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the Cicero Historical Society and operated as a museum furnished with old school desks, chairs, classroom artifacts and books. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 43.17769, -76.07479 (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 07000289.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7618854
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.