Scranton Lace Company
Also known as: Scranton Lace Curtain Manufacturing Co.; Scranton Lace Curtain Co.
Why it's listed
Begun in 1891 in north Scranton, the Scranton Lace Company grew from five brick buildings into a complex of 32 interconnected structures by 1946, arranged around three courtyards between Meylert and Albright Avenues. Mathias Stipp built the original buildings, and the Morton C. Tuttle Company and A. J. Sordoni later erected others. The clock tower, large multi-light steel windows, and reinforced concrete bays give the complex its industrial character. The company was founded as the Scranton Lace Curtain Manufacturing Company and made Nottingham lace curtains on secondhand looms brought from England. By the mid-twentieth century it was among the largest Nottingham lace producers in Pennsylvania and was reported to be the last such producer in the United States when it closed in 2002. The complex is regarded as the area's largest surviving example of an early to mid-twentieth-century industrial plant that adapted to changing markets, with its original factory form and interiors largely intact.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the complex was one of the largest Nottingham lace manufacturing complexes in the Lackawanna Valley and Pennsylvania in the mid-twentieth century, making it significant under Criterion A for Industry. It is also argued to be the area's largest surviving early to mid-twentieth-century industrial facility, significant under Criterion C for Architecture.
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 12000221, listed April 16, 2012. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1315 Meylert St., Scranton |
|---|---|
| County | Lackawanna County |
| Listed | April 16, 2012 |
| Reference number | 12000221 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1891-1959 |
| Architect / builder | Mathias Stipp (builder of the original five buildings); Morton C. Tuttle Company (builder); A. J. Sordoni (builder) |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian, Craftsman, Moderne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The property is described as in very good condition with limited broken windows; the company closed the factory in 2002. |
| Acreage | 8.4 |
| Coordinates | 41.42994, -75.65855 (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 12000221.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7438749
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.