Governor Wolf Building

Location #4

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

Governor Wolf Building with a clock tower sitting on a small hill with trees

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.

Governor Wolf Building with the arch and a tree with white flowers
Woman wearing a coat and scarf standing in front of an arch of the Governor Wolf Building
Governor Wolf Buiding seen through the Penny arch

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