Highspire High School
Also known as: Highspire Elementary School
Why it's listed
Built in stages between 1875 and 1939 on the southeast corner of Penn and Roop Streets in Highspire, this two-story brick school grew from a four-room schoolhouse into a complex of connected additions in 1902, 1915, 1926 and 1939. The 1915 addition, which occupies the principal corner, set a Collegiate Classical design theme with large multi-pane windows that later additions repeated. The building served as the borough's only high school until the district merged with Steelton in 1956 and a regional school opened in Swatara Township in 1958. It then served as an elementary school until closing in 1983. It is regarded as the largest public building in the community and a central anchor of the old town center. Interior features such as wainscotting, classroom doors and hallway transoms survive in parts of the building, although the building has been vacant since 1983 and has lost some interior elements.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building was the borough's original high school and its only high school until 1958, and remains its largest public building and a focal point for the community. Its 1915 Collegiate Classical design set the theme for later additions, which reflect the borough's population growth. It is also presented as a good example of an older, unconsolidated neighborhood high school.
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 90000703, listed April 26, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 221 Penn St., Highspire |
|---|---|
| County | Dauphin County |
| Listed | April 26, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000703 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1875-1939 |
| Architect / builder | Fisher, G. (architect) for the 1875 building; Alexander, H.B. (builder) for the 1939 building; Lawrie & Green (architect) |
| Architectural style | Late Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacant since 1983 and showing physical deterioration, especially in the older sections. |
| Acreage | 0.7 |
| Coordinates | 40.20997, -76.79060 (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 90000703.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15223964
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.