Oak Park Historic District
Why it's listed
Laid out in 1912 in Hatfield Township about one mile from downtown Lansdale, Oak Park is a planned residential district of early to mid 20th century houses. Developer Harry Richardson sold lots with deed restrictions that set front setbacks at 75 feet and banned noisy or odorous businesses. The narrow, winding streets, including a landscaped median on Oak Boulevard and a triangular garden on Park Avenue, were designed to contrast with the grid of Lansdale. The district includes eight Bungalow/Craftsman homes built from 1912 to about 1920, among them Richardson's own first house at 110 Oak Boulevard. Other notable buildings include a Mission Revival house at 136 Oak Boulevard and a Prairie School music conservatory at 1020 Forest Avenue. The district is regarded as an example of early suburban planning and of the Arts and Crafts ideals applied to residential design.
Significance in brief: The district is argued to be significant under Criterion C for Architecture for its range of early 20th century styles, particularly its Bungalow/Craftsman homes, and for its curving street pattern and deed-restricted suburban layout. The nomination also presents it as an example of early suburban development shaped by the Lehigh Transit Company trolley line and the growth of Lansdale.
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 98000897, listed July 23, 1998. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Roughly along Oak Park Rd., Park Ave., Oak Blvd., Forest Ave., and Squirrel Ln., Hatfiels Township |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | July 23, 1998 |
| Reference number | 98000897 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1912-1948 |
| Architect / builder | Richardson, Harry; Conver, S. S.; Slifer, Walter; Worthington, L. P. |
| Architectural style | Bungalow/Craftsman; Cottage Revival; Colonial Revival; Mission Revival; Prairie School; Tudor Revival; Four Square; Ranch Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Acreage | 17.7 |
| Coordinates | 40.25310, -75.29874 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 98000897.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7073669
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.