Silkman House
Also known as: Providence Branch of the Scranton Public Library
Why it's listed
Built in 1840 at 2066 North Main Avenue in Providence, a village later absorbed into Scranton, this two-and-a-half-story frame house with a full basement is regarded as one of the finest Greek Revival residences in Lackawanna County. Its gable roof has a large central brick chimney and pediments at both gable ends. The front facade is dominated by a four-column portico, unusually fitted with square rather than round columns, and the main facade has twelve-over-twelve windows. Aron Silkman built the house, and his cousin William Silkman bought it a few years later. William lived there until his death in 1874 and worked in coal lands and real estate, and he spent years in Harrisburg lobbying for the separation of Luzerne from Lackawanna County. The Silkman family owned the house until the last member died in 1936. The city then bought it for the Providence Branch of the Scranton Public Library, which it remains today.
Significance in brief: The nomination describes it as one of the finest Greek Revival residences in Lackawanna County. Its main facade has a four-column portico with square columns, and it was home to several generations of the Silkman family from 1840 until 1936. It was then purchased by the city for use as the Providence Branch of the Scranton Public Library.
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 78002413, listed December 18, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2006 N. Main Ave., Scranton |
|---|---|
| County | Lackawanna County |
| Listed | December 18, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002413 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1840 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a public library |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 41.43803, -75.65533 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
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 78002413.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7515264
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.