Foos, Charles S., Elementary School
Also known as: Douglass and Weiser School
Why it's listed
Built in 1903 in Reading's northwest neighborhood as the Douglass and Weiser School, this two-story brick building was designed by Head and constructed by James Matz with eight classrooms and a Victorian Romanesque facade. In 1912 architect Edward Scholl extended it along the full block and gave it a Classical Revival facade with a decorative cornice, terra cotta and cast stone details, and a central half-hexagon entrance. A 1921 addition enlarged the western side. The building was regarded as the most modern grade school in the city in a 1923 state study, with a gymnasium, science lab, practical arts shops, a library, and an auditorium. It housed a branch of the Reading Public Library from 1918 to 1938 and was open to neighborhood groups such as the Girl Scouts. Renamed for Superintendent Charles Foos in 1937, it closed in 1979 and has since been vacant.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the school is significant for its architectural style and integrity and for its educational prominence in the Reading school system. It is described as the only school in the Classical Revival style in Reading and one of only seven surviving of more than 50 school buildings in the city in 1923. It is also cited as the most modern grade school in the city in a 1923 state study, and for its neighborhood role, including a branch library from 1918 to 1938.
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 83004191, listed November 10, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Douglass and Weiser Sts., Reading |
|---|---|
| County | Berks County |
| Listed | November 10, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83004191 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1903-1921 |
| Architect / builder | Head (designer, 1903); James Matz (builder, 1903); Edward Scholl (architect, 1912) |
| Architectural style | Victorian Romanesque; Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacant since its closure in 1979; exterior in fair condition and interior in poor condition due to water damage, vandalism, and a recent fire. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Within district | Queen Anne Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.34778, -75.93809 (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 83004191.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15209152
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.