Springfield School
Also known as: DHR File No. 127-832
Why it's listed
Springfield School is a two-and-one-half story granite-faced school at 608 North 26th Street in Richmond, built in 1913 with a raised basement, an H-shaped plan and a crenelated parapet. It replaced an 1880 brick school on the same site, where classes had been held since at least 1869. The main entrance has a Tudor arch, a label hood mold and wrought iron gates marked with S-shaped shields. Designed by Carneal and Johnston and built by the Wise Granite Company, it is a good example of Gothic Revival styling adapted to a standard school plan. Granite is rare on Richmond buildings, and this is one of only two extant public schools in the city extensively faced with it. The school belongs to the construction program led by Superintendent J.A.C. Chandler and overseen by architect Charles M. Robinson after 1909. In 1948 it was renamed for J. Andrew Bowler and became the first former white school on Church Hill to admit black students. It is now vacant, but its plan and many original features survive.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it represents an important period of public school construction in Richmond under Superintendent J.A.C. Chandler and architect Charles M. Robinson. It is also significant for its association with the locally important firm Carneal and Johnston, its high-style Gothic Revival design, and its rare use of granite, which is uncommon in a city of mostly brick buildings.
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 92001032, listed August 24, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 608 N. 26th St., Richmond (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Richmond (city and county) |
| Listed | August 24, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92001032 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1914-1930 |
| Architect / builder | Robinson, Charles M.; Supervising Architect; Carneal and Johnston; Architects; Wise Granite Company; Builder |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Late Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently vacant and in fair condition; interior has minor alterations but the plan is intact and original features such as stairways remain. |
| Acreage | 1.2 |
| Within district | Church Hill North Historic District |
| Coordinates | 37.53441, -77.41520 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 92001032.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7581045
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.