Carlin Hall
Also known as: Curtis Hall; Carlin Community Hall; Glencarlyn School; Glencarl
Why it's listed
Carlin Hall is a tall one-story wooden community hall built in 1892 in the Glencarlyn neighborhood of Arlington, Virginia. Carpenter Theodore Bailey of Bailey's Crossroads built it on a cross plan, with wood siding, a bracketed cornice, nine-over-nine windows and a cupola atop a standing-seam metal roof. Residents of Glencarlyn, the county's first planned suburban subdivision, organized a stock association to fund it. Until about 1920 it served as the village's main gathering place, hosting the civic improvement association, Episcopal church services, dances, plays and holiday events. From the early 1920s until 1953 it was used as the Glencarlyn elementary school, then returned to the association, which deeded it to Arlington County in 1962. A kitchen addition, a furnace, plumbing and a new roof were added over the years. It still serves the neighborhood as a meeting hall and preschool site, and is valued for its civic role and its intact Late Victorian vernacular design.
Significance in brief: It was the most important structure in Glencarlyn, the first planned suburban subdivision in Arlington County, from 1892 to about 1920. It hosted the civic association, Episcopal services, and social events. It is also an intact example of Late Victorian vernacular design.
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 93000833, listed August 12, 1993. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 5711 4th St., S., Arlington |
|---|---|
| County | Arlington County |
| Listed | August 12, 1993 |
| Reference number | 93000833 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1892-1920 |
| Architect / builder | Bailey, Theodore |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Community Planning and Development |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by Arlington County and still used as a community meeting hall, hosting a cooperative preschool, classes, civic meetings and events. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Glencarlyn Historic District |
| Coordinates | 38.86316, -77.12602 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
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 93000833.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712128
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.