Finch Building
Also known as: International Correspondence Schools Building; Hudson Coal Co
Why it's listed
Scranton's Finch Building is a four-and-a-half-story rock-faced stone structure with corner turrets, tile roofs and a two-story balustraded entrance bay. William Scott-Collins, a member of the faculty of the International Correspondence Schools, designed it in 1898 as the school's first permanent administrative headquarters. The International Correspondence Schools was founded in 1890 by Thomas J. Foster as a home study school for vocational and industrial subjects, and by 1900 it had enrolled more than 250,000 students. Former alumni named in the nomination include labor leader F. Philip Murray, entertainer Arthur Godfrey, and Ernest Henderson, founder of the Sheraton Hotel chain. The building is significant for its educational association and for its Chateauesque architecture, which features finely crafted masonry, elaborate window treatment and steep tile roofs. Interior oak wainscoting and oak purlin ceilings survive. The building was occupied by the Hudson Coal Company for some years and has been vacant since 1965.
Significance in brief: The building was the first permanent administrative headquarters of the International Correspondence Schools, a home study school founded in 1890 by Thomas J. Foster. It is also described as an excellent example of Victorian architecture in the Chateauesque style, with finely crafted masonry and steep tile roofs.
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 76001644, listed June 14, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 424 Wyoming Ave., Scranton |
|---|---|
| County | Lackawanna County |
| Listed | June 14, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001644 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1898 |
| Architect / builder | William Scott-Collins (architect) |
| Architectural style | Chateauesque |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacant since 1965 and deteriorated, particularly in the interior. |
| Acreage | 0.6 |
| Coordinates | 41.41169, -75.66153 (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.
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 76001644.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5449815
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.