Old Pottstown Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Also known as: See Also:Old Pottstown Historic District
Why it's listed
Commercial and mixed-use buildings line High Street and the blocks south of it in downtown Pottstown, Montgomery County, most dating from about 1860 to the 1920s. The area adds to the older Old Pottstown Historic District, extending it south toward the main railroad line. Its most distinctive buildings include the Victorian Gothic brownstone church at 312 High Street, the Neo-Classical Revival lodge hall at 306-310 High Street, and the Mission-style commercial block at 200-204 High Street. The Goodwill Steam Engine Fire Company building at 28 South Hanover Street, dated 1875, is a surviving Italianate fire house with a green Serpentine stone facade. The basement barber shop at 20 South Hanover Street is described as the only remaining basement shop in Pottstown. Many buildings have been altered by later cladding, and some have been restored. The area is regarded as important for the local history of architecture and for the continuity of the downtown streetscape.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that the added area contains some of Pottstown's best examples of specific architectural styles and building types not found in the registered district, and that it completes the historic fabric of the downtown. It also states that the area adds to the spatial qualities and continuity of High Street. The document notes that the area has more alterations and noncontributing buildings than the rest of the district.
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 91001715, listed November 14, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | High St. between Hanover and Franklin Sts., Pottstown |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | November 14, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91001715 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | C. 1860 - C. 1935 |
| Architectural style | Italianate; Neo-Classical Revival; Mission; Late Federal; Queen Anne; Victorian Gothic; Modern Movement |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Most storefronts have been altered, and about ten of the 42 contributing buildings are in original condition; several burned-out and deteriorated structures have been removed and some buildings have been restored. |
| Acreage | 13.9 |
| Within district | Old Pottstown Historic District (Additional Documentation) |
| Coordinates | 40.24584, -75.64747 (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 91001715.
- 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.