Preston Laboratories
Why it's listed
Set on an 87.5-acre property in Butler Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, Preston Laboratories is a glass research complex begun in 1936 and built primarily through about 1947. Dr. Frank W. Preston designed the buildings, which include a main laboratory of brick and concrete, a machine shop, an instrument building and a garage, along with a curving drive, ponds and a landscape he shaped himself. The site is significant for its association with Preston, a glass scientist who developed bottle testing methods, invented testing machinery and established standards used across the glass industry. The laboratory employed about 20 to 25 people and served glass manufacturers, including Owens-Illinois. Preston retired in 1959 and sold the research business, which ended the laboratory's period of operation. He later became active in ornithology, ecology and land conservation, and the property remains a record of his work in glass science and natural history.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that Dr. Frank W. Preston, a glass scientist, was a pioneering figure in glass fracture and bottle testing, and that the laboratory served the American glass industry during its operation. It also presents the designed landscape, shaped by Preston, as a clear expression of his scientific and naturalist interests.
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 12001095, listed December 26, 2012. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 415 S. Eberhart Rd., Butler |
|---|---|
| County | Butler County |
| Listed | December 26, 2012 |
| Reference number | 12001095 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1936-1959 |
| Architect / builder | Edwin Howard (architect); Dr. Frank W. Preston (designed and built the property) |
| Architectural style | No style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Science |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Preston Laboratories was donated to Butler Township by Mrs. Preston after her death in 2008, according to the document. |
| Acreage | 87.5 |
| Coordinates | 40.80113, -79.94432 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 12001095.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q137584077
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.