District School No. 14
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
This two-story wood-frame schoolhouse on Academy Street in Pine Hill was built in 1924-25 to replace an earlier school on the site that burned in the early 1920s. Builder Thomas Storey of Arkville completed it for just over $23,000, and it opened for classes in September 1925. Its hipped roof, octagonal belfry and classical entrance reflect the Colonial Revival, while exposed rafter ends, knee brackets, six-over-one windows and stucco show Craftsman influence. The plan follows school design trends after 1910: a basement gymnasium/auditorium, several classrooms, bathrooms, twelve-foot ceilings, and windows placed for natural light. Stucco over frame construction and a second-floor exit with an iron stair addressed fire-safety standards of the 1920s. The building served as a school until 1960, then became a youth center, a coat factory and a furniture repair shop. Today it houses a regional museum. Its original plan, plaster walls and maple floors survive largely intact.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a well-preserved early twentieth century schoolhouse that retains its original form, setting and interior plan. It combines Colonial Revival and Craftsman elements and reflects post-1910 changes in rural school design, including a gymnasium/auditorium, multiple classrooms, twelve-foot ceilings, one-sided lighting and fire-safety features.
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 97000111, listed February 21, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Academy St., S of jct. with Birch Cr. Rd., Pine Hill |
|---|---|
| County | Ulster County |
| Listed | February 21, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97000111 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1925 |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; built by Thomas Storey of Arkville |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and Early 20th Century Revivals/Colonial Revival, with Craftsman influence |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Education |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a regional museum (Shandaken Museum); the interior retains a high degree of integrity despite limited changes. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Pine Hill Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.13499, -74.47932 (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 97000111.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5283369
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.