Scranton Chamber of Commerce Building
Also known as: Mulberry Street Professional Plaza
Why it's listed
Built in 1926 at the corner of Mulberry Street and North Washington Avenue, directly across from Scranton's City Hall, this four-story limestone office building was designed in the Art Deco style by Edward Langley. It housed the Scranton Chamber of Commerce's regional offices, meeting rooms, and a ceremonial lounge, along with rental offices and storefronts. Its decorative features include limestone spandrels, a balcony over the Mulberry Street entrance, and marble and bronze interior finishes. The building is significant for its association with the Chamber's economic development work. Between 1945 and 1961, the Chamber organized the Scranton Plan, formed SLIBCO and LIFE, and built industrial parks that brought new employers and jobs to the region. The nomination credits these efforts with reviving the local economy after the decline of the coal industry.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is associated with the Chamber of Commerce's economic development work from the early 20th century through the 1960s, including the 1945 Scranton Plan and the formation of SLIBCO and LIFE. The Chamber's efforts to diversify the local economy after the decline of coal are presented as a model for other communities. The building is locally significant under Criterion A.
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 11000647, listed September 8, 2011. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 426 Mulberry Ave., Scranton |
|---|---|
| County | Lackawanna County |
| Listed | September 8, 2011 |
| Reference number | 11000647 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1926-1961 |
| Architect / builder | Edward Langley (architect); David H. Morgan (associated architect) |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.41235, -75.66121 (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 11000647.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7438740
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.