{"nrhp_refnum":"86003309","name":"Mitchell, S. Weir, School","other_names":[],"category":"building","location":{"address":"Fifty-sixth and Kingsessing St.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Philadelphia","county":"Philadelphia","state":"PA","lat":39.936581932000024,"lon":-75.22340550099995,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1986-12-04","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Architecture"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A four-story, seven-bay red brick public school building at 56th and Kingsessing Street in Philadelphia, built 1915-1916 and designed by Henry deCoursey Richards with David Peoples as builder. It is one of the Philadelphia public schools nominated as part of a multiple property group.","why_significant":"The nomination argues the building is one of only three known designs of its building type and an exceptionally intact Gothicized design by Richards. Its ornamented Gothic detailing, including a main entrance with oversize arch surround and tracery, is described as unusual for Philadelphia public schools. It is significant in architecture.","narrative":"Built in 1915-1916 as a public school at 56th and Kingsessing Street in Philadelphia, the four-story red brick building was designed by Henry deCoursey Richards, with David Peoples as builder. It rises seven bays with terra cotta and granite trim, a limestone belt course above the basement, and double-hung four-over-four sash set within quoined surrounds. Its two projecting entrance bays flank the Kingsessing Street elevation, and the main entrance has an oversize Gothic arch surround, tracery panels, and tripartite doors beneath a transom. Diaper panels, gothic motifs and an arched gable parapet complete the decoration. The school is one of only three known examples of its building type, and it is regarded as an exceptionally intact Gothicized design by Richards. Its intricate ornament is considered unusual for Philadelphia public schools, which is the basis for its listing in the area of architecture.","period_of_significance":"1915-1916","architect_builder":"H.deC. Richards (architect); David Peoples (builder)","architectural_style":"Academic Gothic","criteria":["C"],"status_note":"Condition recorded as fair on the survey form.","vacant_flag":null,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-haiku-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.1-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 17:11:32.360632-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_PA/86003309.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/86003309/ee2cfb0dc2-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/86003309/ee2cfb0dc2-1600.webp","licence":"Public domain","author":"Smallbones","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mitchel_School_Philly.JPG\" rel=\"noopener\">Smallbones</a>, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mitchel_School_Philly.JPG"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/71993468","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S._Weir_Mitchell_School","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7387982"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/pennsylvania/philadelphia/mitchell-s-weir-school-86003309/"}