Nichols High School
Why it's listed
Nichols High School, at 84 Cady Avenue in the village of Nichols, is a three-story brick school with limestone trim, built in 1911-12 to replace an 1871 frame schoolhouse. Architects T.I. Lacey & Son of Binghamton designed it in the Jacobean Gothic style, with a projecting entrance bay beneath a Tudor arch. Thomas Maney of Sayre, Pennsylvania, was the principal contractor, and the building cost $23,000. Its fireproof construction and classroom layout reflect New York's early school house laws. Inside, it keeps beaded board wainscoting, pine floors and doors, pressed metal ceilings, and an assembly hall on the third floor. Few changes have been made since construction. The school was significant as a well-preserved example of a multi-room brick school serving a small rural community, and for its role in the town's educational history. The property is now vacant, with some water-related deterioration but a sound structure.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a representative and intact example of early twentieth century school architecture in New York's Southern Tier (Criterion C). It is also associated with the growth of Nichols and the importance of public education in the community (Criterion A). Its design reflects New York's early school house laws, and it retains a high degree of exterior and interior integrity.
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 96000553, listed May 16, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 84 Cady Ave., Nichols |
|---|---|
| County | Tioga County |
| Listed | May 16, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96000553 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1912-1945 |
| Architect / builder | Architect: T.I. Lacy and Son; Principal Contractor: Thomas Maney |
| Architectural style | Tudor Revival (Jacobean Gothic) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as vacant and not in use; structurally sound, with some water damage causing mortar and plaster deterioration. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 42.02056, -76.36471 (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 96000553.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14707103
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.