York Casket Company
Also known as: York-Hoover Body Company--Casket Division
Why it's listed
Located at 700-710 Linden Avenue in York City, this industrial complex was built between 1892 and 1932 and includes five brick buildings joined by one-story hyphens, along with a later metal pole building. The oldest buildings are three-story Late Victorian structures of dark red brick with corbel tables, dating to about 1892. The 1932 two-story office building is Art Deco, with cast stone piers and a belt course. The complex began as the York Gear and Wagon Company in 1892 and turned to casket making in 1932. By the late 1940s it was among the largest burial casket makers in the United States, selling through funeral directors across the eastern states. The plant was the center of its hardwood casket production, which was considered among the most expensive made in the country. Its role in York's industrial history and in the national casket trade is the basis for its listing.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the complex is significant under Criterion A for industry as a locally significant York County manufacturer of burial caskets, particularly hardwood caskets. Its period of significance begins in 1932, when the company diversified from wagon and body manufacturing into casket making, and ends in 1957, the 50-year guideline. The plant accommodated the full range of the business, from wood drying and assembly to sales and shipping.
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 08000523, listed June 10, 2008. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 700-710 Linden Ave., York |
|---|---|
| County | York County |
| Listed | June 10, 2008 |
| Reference number | 08000523 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1932-1957 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian; Modern Movement-Art Deco |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The complex was sold in 2004 and is leased to a ribbon manufacturer; the casket operations moved to Manchester Township before that. |
| Acreage | 1.6 |
| Coordinates | 39.95812, -76.74736 (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 08000523.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q139770162
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.