Anthracite Bank Building
Also known as: The Beard Building
Why it's listed
Built in 1850 in Tamaqua, a coal borough in Schuylkill County, this three-story brick commercial building was erected to house the exchange rooms and offices of the Anthracite Bank, the town's first banking institution. The bank operated here for fifteen years until 1865, when its state charter was surrendered and it reorganized as the First National Bank of Tamaqua, moving to a new building on West Broad Street. The building later housed the Tamaqua Building and Loan Company, several law firms, and insurance brokers, and for a time served as the residence of General Henry L. Cake, a Civil War veteran and coal colliery owner. Its stucco first-story facade, bracketed cornice, and tall narrow windows reflect the Italianate style. The building is regarded as a rare survivor of pre-Civil War commercial construction in the borough, with its interior mantles, plaster ceiling, staircase, and original shutters largely intact.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant for its nineteenth-century occupants and as an example of mid-19th-century architecture. It is described as one of the very few pre-Civil War commercial buildings in Tamaqua that have escaped alteration, and it retains original interior features including carrara marble mantles, plaster ceiling decoration, and original shutters.
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 78002469, listed September 13, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 133 W. Broad St., Tamaqua |
|---|---|
| County | Schuylkill County |
| Listed | September 13, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002469 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1850-1899 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently a branch of Moners National Bank of Pottsville on the first floor, with the upper floors maintained as a private residence and first-floor offices occupied by a newspaper publisher. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 40.79730, -75.97260 (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 78002469.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4773830
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.