Schlicher, George F., Hotel
Why it's listed
Built in 1877 beside the railroad depot in Alburtis, Lehigh County, the Schlicher Hotel is a three-and-a-half-story brick building with a frame addition on the west side. Its late Victorian character is shown by a wraparound covered porch about 90 feet long, elaborate porch arches, gingerbread woodwork above the windows, hand-made porch spindles, and scrolled wooden brackets under the cornices. George F. Schlicher and John S. Saul bought the site in August 1877, and the hotel served travelers arriving by train. It also had the largest restaurant and the only banquet and meeting rooms in the borough, and it housed workers from the nearby Lockridge Furnaces. The hotel's bar and restaurant ran until the early 1930s. In 1944 the interior was gutted and the building was divided into apartments. The exterior is regarded as one of the most notable Victorian hotel fronts in Lehigh and Northampton counties.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the hotel is significant in commerce and architecture. It is presented as a prime example of late Victorian design, with a large wraparound porch and decorative woodwork, and as the most important commercial building in the early town centre. It also served as the principal hotel near the railroad and the Lockridge Furnaces.
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 92000396, listed May 7, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 105--107 S. Main St., Alburtis |
|---|---|
| County | Lehigh County |
| Listed | May 7, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92000396 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1877-1941 |
| Architect / builder | George F. Schlicher (builder/owner, as stated in the Statement of Significance) |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Converted into apartments in 1944; exterior described as retaining its original integrity. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 40.51209, -75.60296 (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 92000396.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5539141
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.