Jenkins' Town Lyceum Building
Also known as: Jenkintown Library
Why it's listed
Built in 1839 as a small stone meeting hall on Old York Road, the Jenkins' Town Lyceum Building was constructed by local carpenter John Sines for the Lyceum society, whose members met there and kept a library of books and natural history collections. In 1909 and 1910 the building was enlarged to two stories with a front portico by the architect Charles L. Borie, who kept the original 1839 walls within the new structure. The Abington Library Society acquired the property in 1910 and has operated it as a library since then. Over the decades the building hosted local schools and colleges, women's suffrage and wartime lectures, the Red Cross, and a range of civic and religious groups. Its significance rests on its continuous public use, its surviving early fabric, and its role as the community's main gathering and learning place.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant for its historical, architectural, educational and humanitarian roles. It was the meeting place for the Lyceum and the Abington Library Society, housed many community groups and educational institutions, and retains its original 1839 section within the 1910 enlargement by Charles L. Borie.
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 79002303, listed October 16, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Old York and Vista Rds., Jenkintown |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | October 16, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002303 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1839, 1910 |
| Architect / builder | John Sines (1839); Charles L. Borie (1910) |
| Areas of significance | Education |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Serves as the Jenkintown Library, maintained by the Abington Library Society. |
| Acreage | 1.1 |
| Coordinates | 40.09873, -75.12521 (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 79002303.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6177557
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.