First Church of Christ, Scientist
Why it's listed
Built in 1915 of Indiana limestone, this two-story building in downtown Scranton is dominated by a six-column Ionic portico that spans most of its front facade. Christian Science congregation commissioned it, a group organized in Scranton in 1879 that received a charter in 1882, the first granted to a Church of Christ, Scientist in Pennsylvania. The congregation worshipped there until 1985, when falling membership led to a sale to the Lackawanna County Library Board. The county converted the sanctuary into a reference reading room and the basement into a media center in 1987, moving the original screen and pilasters about ten feet forward and removing the pews. The building is considered an outstanding example of Neo-Classical Revival styling among the large public buildings erected downtown between 1880 and 1930. It is also regarded as a fine representative of the work of Albert J. Ward, a locally prominent architect active in the early twentieth century.
Significance in brief: The building is regarded as an outstanding local example of the Neo-Classical Revival style among the large public buildings erected downtown between 1880 and 1930, and as a fine example of the work of local architect Albert J. Ward. Its alterations since 1915 are described as limited and largely reversible, which the nomination uses to support its integrity.
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 88000467, listed May 9, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 520 Vine St., Scranton |
|---|---|
| County | Lackawanna County |
| Listed | May 9, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88000467 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1915 |
| Architect / builder | Ward, Albert J. |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Converted from church to library use by the Lackawanna County Library System in 1987. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 41.40900, -75.66006 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
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 88000467.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5452710
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.