Federal School
Also known as: See Also:Allgates
Why it's listed
Built in 1797 of stone on Darby Road in Haverford Township, Delaware County, the Federal School is a one-storey, one-room schoolhouse. It was used as a school until 1872, after which it was privately owned until 1968, when it again became school property. The original deed records that the land was conveyed by Philadelphia merchant Alexander Symington to five township residents for the purpose of erecting a school. The building is regarded as the oldest school building in Haverford Township. Much of its interior is original, including a high coved ceiling and nine windows, eight of them 8-over-8 sash. Its lintel boards and pegged oak window frames are also original, and a small fireplace with openings for three stovepipes remains in the chimney. Its significance rests on its age and its long association with local education. The school board and the Haverford Township Historical Society are restoring it.
Significance in brief: The nomination states that it is the oldest school building in Haverford Township. It served as a school until 1872, was then privately owned until 1968, and returned to school property at that time. The land was conveyed by a Philadelphia merchant to five township residents for the purpose of erecting a 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 71000704, listed November 5, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Haverford-Darby Rd., Haverford |
|---|---|
| County | Delaware County |
| Listed | November 5, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000704 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1797 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Being restored by the school board and the Haverford Township Historical Society. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 39.99670, -75.32576 (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 71000704.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5440428
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.