Borough Hall of the Borough of Waynesboro
Why it's listed
Built in 1881 of brick by the Waynesboro Town Council, this three-story building on Main Street was designed as a fire station and community hall, and it was also intended to serve as a theatre. Its symmetrical square block, mansard roof with patterned slate, central pavilion topped by a bracketed clock, and arched windows with eyebrow-like heads mark it as a Second Empire design. The building was the town's first modern theatre and hosted lectures, band concerts, recitals, graduations and vaudeville acts into the early twentieth century. The first motion picture shown in Waynesboro was screened here in 1906. In 1922 the second floor housed the Waynesboro Library, and in 1929 the eastern half of the first floor became a public market. It was saved from demolition in 1975 and was incorporated into expanded Borough Offices. It is listed for its architecture and for its long civic and cultural role in the community.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is a classic example of the Second Empire style and the only remaining example of that style on Main Street in Waynesboro. It also held a significant dual role in the town's cultural and civic life, serving first as a fire station and community theatre and later as a library, public market and municipal offices.
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 80003496, listed December 2, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 57 E. Main St., Waynesboro |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | December 2, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003496 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1881 |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Saved from demolition in 1975 and now serves, with a major addition, as the Borough Offices; interior has been extensively altered. |
| Acreage | 0.6 |
| Within district | Waynesboro Historic District |
| Coordinates | 39.75518, -77.57630 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
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 80003496.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4946313
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.