Dickson Works (Additional Documentation)
Also known as: Starcor Building
Why it's listed
A long three-story brick industrial building at Vine Street and Penn Avenue in Scranton, Pennsylvania, it is the only surviving structure of a large complex that was the original Dickson Works. Thomas Dickson, later president of the Delaware and Hudson Railroad Company, set up the enterprise in February 1856 as a shop to repair and manufacture mine machinery and boilers, and by May the first shop was in operation with thirty men. The business was organized as Dickson and Company and became Dickson Manufacturing Company in 1862. By 1880 it employed 600 men, and its products found markets across the globe. Its 1876 Centennial Exposition exhibit earned a diploma of highest merit and a medal. The original works was parent to many Scranton industries, including engine, boiler, rolling mill and locomotive makers. The building measures about 100 by 300 feet and has a corner tower roughly 100 feet tall, with double-height Roman arched windows and exposed wooden roof trusses with wrought-iron ties. Vacant from 1942 to 1962, it has since housed the Stacor Equipment Company.
Significance in brief: The enterprise ranked among Scranton's leading industries for more than 50 years and held a high place in the state and country. Founded in 1856 to repair and manufacture mine machinery and boilers, it grew to employ 600 men by 1880 and was the parent of many other Scranton industries. Its 1876 Centennial Exposition exhibit won a diploma of highest merit and a medal.
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 79002251, listed May 14, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 225 Vine St., Scranton |
|---|---|
| County | Lackawanna County |
| Listed | May 14, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002251 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied by the Stacor Equipment Company, which moved in during 1963 and manufactures library tables and furniture; the building was vacant from 1942 to 1962. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 41.41367, -75.66202 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 79002251.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5273811
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.