National Register of Historic Places
Hood Octagonal School
Newtown Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania
The record
- Listed
- February 14, 2006
- Type
- Building
- Address
- 3500 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square, Newtown Township
- County
- Delaware
- State
- Pennsylvania
- Period of significance
- 1825 to 1874
- Contributing resources
- 1 building
- Coordinates
- 39.98615, -75.38913
- Reference number
- 06000045
The story
Written by AI from this property's National Register nomination and the record above; every sentence is checked against its sources before it appears here. Corrections: privacy@treealive.com
The Hood Octagonal School is a stone octagonal schoolhouse at 3500 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square, in Newtown Township, Delaware County, built in 1841 in the Octagon Mode style.
Why it's listed
It was listed in the National Register in 2006 under criteria A and C, with criteria consideration G, and local-level significance in education and architecture. The nomination gives its period of significance as around 1841 to 1865, reflecting the school's construction in 1841.
Physical character
The building has stone walls and a stone foundation, a wood shingle roof, and other wood details. Inside, a central wood stove and a raised dais survive, along with strap hinges on the doors. In 1963 farm equipment was removed from the building and restoration began; the work, completed in 1964, was directed by Philadelphia architect Richard Ashbridge Yarnall.
Historical context
Following the 1834 Free Public School Act, Isaiah Fawkes conveyed the school lot in trust in 1841, and the school served as a common school from 1841 until around 1865. In 1865 Ruth Ann Vanleer conveyed the school lot to James Dunwoody.