Waynesboro Historic District

Waynesboro Historic District was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on April 24, 2020.
Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office

Three miles from the Pennsylvania–Maryland border is the Keystone State’s most recent listing in the National Register of Historic Places: the Waynesboro Historic District, located along Main Street and Clayton Avenue in the borough of Waynesboro, Franklin County. The district’s period of historic significance dates from 1780 through 1965, beginning with the construction of a log building on the east end of town, but it encompasses a substantial concentration of more than 500 commercial and residential buildings from the late 19th century through the early 20th century.

Originally laid out in 1797 by John Wallace Jr. as Waynesburg, named after Revolutionary War hero Gen. Anthony Wayne, the community at first contained small general stores, a few specialty shops, and taverns and hotels that catered to travelers. In 1831 the town was rechartered as Waynesboro. Its fortunes as an industrial center benefited from its competitive location at the crossroads between turnpikes leading from Baltimore to Pittsburgh and from Chambersburg to Hagerstown, Maryland.

Industrial workers who moved to the area in the 19th century spurred commercial activity and necessitated the construction of additional buildings on Main Street. The period between 1880 and 1930 was an era of immense growth; over this time, the borough’s population would increase from 2,000 to more than 10,000.

The strength of Waynesboro’s industries led to a rise in its commercial significance. The number of establishments grew along with the population and their affluence. The increased railroad connectivity allowed local shops to easily import new and exotic merchandise from across the country and around the world.

The Clayton Avenue Public School, designed by James W. Woltz, now the school district’s Administration Building.
Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office

Waynesboro’s industrial development created a strong immediate market for goods and services and attracted consumers from surrounding communities. Some of these goods, such as agricultural implements, were produced locally, while the large freight depots associated with regional railroads shipped in merchandise for sale in Waynesboro’s shops. The importance of Waynesboro’s commercial downtown is evidenced in part by the sheer number of stores, which ranged from about 26 in the mid-19th century to more than 200 in the early 20th century. The influence of the industrial development of the community is also visible in the placement of worker housing throughout the borough. The commercial class likely lived above their shops initially and then moved to housing on nearby side streets. The upper and managerial class built larger homes along Clayton Avenue.

Although the designers of many of these buildings remain unknown, one local architect, James W. Woltz (1855–1918), created a number of residences and commercial and institutional buildings in the borough, including the Clayton Avenue Public School.

The Waynesboro Historic District was listed in the National Register on April 24, 2020, for its cohesive concentration of architecture in a variety of styles from the late 19th century through the early 20th century, including Queen Anne Revival, Second Empire, Classical Revival, and Colonial Revival, all of which reflect Waynesboro’s major period of growth and prosperity. The district’s architectural fabric remains largely intact and exhibits a quality of construction that distinguishes it among south central Pennsylvania communities.

Recent listings in the National Register of Historic Places include John and Elizabeth Swarr House, Manheim Township, Lancaster County; Locust Grove Archaeological District, Bainbridge vicinity, Lancaster County; and Waynesboro Historic District, Franklin County.

Elizabeth Rairigh is the division chief for Preservation Services and the National Register coordinator in PHMC’s State Historic Preservation Office.