Clearfield Armory
Why it's listed
Built in 1938 on a flat site about one and a half miles outside Clearfield, Pennsylvania, this two-story brick Moderne armory has an I-shaped plan with administration, drill hall and stable sections. Architect R.G. Howard of Dubois designed it for Troop A, 103rd Cavalry of the Pennsylvania National Guard. Its brown and yellow brick walks in common bond rise above a concrete foundation, with metal casement windows wrapping the corners of the administration section and the drill hall. A curved stair tower with glass block strips marks the main entrance. Federal economic recovery program funds helped pay for construction. The armory is one of 15 Pennsylvania armories built for National Guard units with horses and one of 17 constructed in the state in 1938. Its interior retains glazed tile walls, tile floors and unpainted pine woodwork in the offices. Later changes include fire escapes, filled doorways and classroom conversions in the stable, but the building keeps its original character and is regarded as having very good integrity.
Significance in brief: The armory was built in 1938 for Troop A, 103rd Cavalry of the Pennsylvania National Guard, with federal economic recovery program funds. It is one of 15 Pennsylvania armories built for National Guard units with horses and one of 17 armories constructed in the state in 1938. The nomination argues it is significant under criteria A and C for military and architecture, and that it retains very good 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 89002072, listed December 22, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Coal Hill Rd., Clearfield |
|---|---|
| County | Clearfield County |
| Listed | December 22, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89002072 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1938-1939 |
| Architect / builder | Howard, R.G. |
| Architectural style | Moderne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Military, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Part of continuous military use; a prefabricated metal shed dating from 1989 was added about 100 yards behind the armory. |
| Acreage | 25.5 |
| Coordinates | 41.01233, -78.46220 (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 89002072.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5130846
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.