Hazelton High School
Also known as: Hazleton Castle Intermediate Elementary--Middle School
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built in 1926 in the Late Gothic Revival (Collegiate Gothic) style on a hilltop at 700 North Wyoming Street in Hazleton, the school is a brown brick building of roughly 320 feet in length with twin turrets, crenellation, and stone detailing at its main entrance. Designed by the Harrisburg firm Lawrie & Green, it was completed at a cost of more than $1 million, a first for a Pennsylvania high school. Its plan included classrooms for academic and specialized subjects, chemistry laboratories, a gymnasium, an indoor swimming pool, a library, and a two-story auditorium with a balcony and skylights. The building reflects Progressive Era ideas about education, including a broader curriculum, physical education, and programs aimed at immigrant students in a coal-mining city. Superintendent A.D. Thomas oversaw its planning, drawing on the platoon system developed by his predecessor, David A. Harman. The school closed in 1998 and was renovated in 2006 as an intermediate and middle school. Local citizens prevented its demolition after its closure.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the school is significant under Criterion A for education, as an example of Progressive Era educational practice including a diverse curriculum with specialized spaces and efforts to Americanize immigrant students. It is also significant under Criterion C for architecture, embodying Progressive-era design tenets such as natural light, air circulation, and specialized spaces. The building is noted as the first school in Pennsylvania to cost over $1 million to build.
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 12000222, listed April 16, 2012. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 700 N. Wyoming St., Hazelton |
|---|---|
| County | Luzerne County |
| Listed | April 16, 2012 |
| Reference number | 12000222 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1926-1930 |
| Architect / builder | Lawrie & Green Architects |
| Architectural style | Late Gothic Revival (Collegiate Gothic) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Closed as a high school in 1998 and later renovated in 2006 as an intermediate/middle school; the document describes the building as restored in part. |
| Acreage | 3.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.96797, -75.97222 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 12000222.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.