Governor Wolf Building
Governor Wolf Building
Across the street you can’t miss the Governor Wolf Building, built on the site of the original Easton Union Academy built by Samuel Sitgreaves in 1794.
45 N Second St
About Governor Wolf Building
The Academy was not a school in the modern sense, but provided building space to teachers for private instruction. After a short stint as a female seminary, the building to the right of the current Wolf Building became the first high school 1834. The Governor Wolf building, named for Eastonian George Wolf, governor of Pennsylvania from 1829-1835 was built in 1893.
Note the archway, paid for by pennies donated by local schoolchildren to recognize Wolf’s historic accomplishment—signing legislation to bring free public schooling to the state. The high school moved to 12th Street in 1925 and the Wolf building became the junior high, then the elementary school. After being home to Northampton County government offices for many years, the building was redeveloped and now apartments.
Photos
Special thanks to Richard F. Hope, historian, who contributed a wealth of information for this walking tour.
Written by Kelly Prentice • Photos by Laini Abraham