West Chester Boarding School for Boys
Also known as: Square House
Why it's listed
Brick, three-story building in West Chester, Chester County, built in 1836 by Nathan Sharpless as a private academy for boys. Founded by Joshua Hoopes, the school operated for twenty-eight years, accommodating up to fifty scholars per semester, with instruction that emphasized mathematics and the sciences. A day school for girls opened in the same building in 1855, and both schools closed in 1862. Early construction was financed by local leaders, including botanist and congressman William Darlington. The building keeps its Federal style, with a five-bay north elevation, bonnet dormers, a terne tin roof and a rooftop widow's walk. It is regarded as the only surviving structure in the borough built expressly for private education between 1830 and 1860, and it is significant for its educational history and its architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that the building is significant for its role in the private education of West Chester during the mid-nineteenth century, when Joshua Hoopes' school operated for twenty-eight years. It also argues that the building is a well-preserved local example of the Federal architectural style, retaining most of its original features. It is described as the only surviving borough building erected between 1830 and 1860 expressly for private educational purposes.
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 89002257, listed January 4, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 200 E. Biddle St., West Chester |
|---|---|
| County | Chester County |
| Listed | January 4, 1990 |
| Reference number | 89002257 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1836-62 |
| Architect / builder | Nathan Sharpless (builder) |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Converted from a boarding school to a residence; the document describes all components as in excellent condition. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Coordinates | 39.96477, -75.60453 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 89002257.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7984711
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.