Tripp Family Homestead
Why it's listed
The Tripp House is a two and a half story frame house in Scranton, Pennsylvania, begun around 1812 by Issac Tripp III, grandson of the first settler in the Scranton area. Tradition holds that two master carpenters from Rhode Island built it. Its L-shaped plan had five bays on each wing, a Palladian window on the second story, and a double door with a transom in the middle of each wing. Major additions came in 1880 and 1890, including a porch along the front and side wings, and the interior retains a large central hall with a walnut staircase and Italian marble mantels. The house is significant for its association with four generations of the Tripp family, who were prominent in the early political and business life of Scranton. Colonel Ira Tripp, a state legislator and coal mine operator, was one of the organizers of the Republican Party in the area. The nomination regards it as the oldest surviving building in Scranton, notable for its early Federal design features.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant for its association with four generations of the Tripp family, descendants of the first white settler of Scranton, who played a role in the city's early political and business life. It is also described as the oldest structure standing in Scranton and as employing many Federal features in its original construction.
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 72001126, listed June 19, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1101 N. Main Ave., Scranton |
|---|---|
| County | Lackawanna County |
| Listed | June 19, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72001126 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Fair condition; altered; at original site. The building is stated to be under condemnation proceedings by the Scranton Redevelopment Authority. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 41.42669, -75.66958 (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 72001126.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7843714
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.