Noxen School
Also known as: Noxem High School
Why it's listed
Built in 1897 by William Sherman Hubbell, the Noxen School is a frame building with stone foundations, sited on School Street in Noxen Township. A two-classroom addition in 1922 gave it a T-shaped footprint and extended its use. The school was founded after the town of Noxen incorporated in 1895 and its residents, many working for the Mosser tannery, wanted a single large school in place of three one-room schools. In 1902 it became the township's first high school, drawing students from roughly fifteen miles away. It served as a high school until 1951, then as an elementary school, and closed in 1976 following consolidation of school districts. The building is regarded as one of the few remaining reminders of Noxen's industrial past and of the community's commitment to education. Its interior retains original features including fir flooring, Victorian woodwork and blackboards, and its exterior form has changed little since 1922.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the school is significant under Criterion A for its association with education in Noxen Township. It served as the township's first high school from 1902 and later as a grade school, and it reflects the growth of schooling tied to the town's tannery-driven population boom. The document states the building retains integrity of its character-defining features.
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 06000431, listed May 24, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | School St., Noxen Township |
|---|---|
| County | Wyoming County |
| Listed | May 24, 2006 |
| Reference number | 06000431 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1897-1956 |
| Architect / builder | William Sherman Hubbell (builder) |
| Architectural style | No Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Converted to a community space after the school closed in 1976; the township acquired it in 1978, and it has since housed a library, a clothing shop and community groups. |
| Acreage | 1.8 |
| Coordinates | 41.42649, -76.05518 (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 06000431.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7067299
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.