Birney, Gen. David B., School
Why it's listed
Built in 1912-1913 at 900 West Lindley Street in Philadelphia, this three-story school was designed by Henry deCourcy Richards, who led the design of the School District's buildings from 1906 to 1918. It is constructed of reinforced concrete faced with brick and trimmed with limestone, and its five stepped registers carry double-hung windows with common limestone lintels. A limestone entrance at the center and a projecting side entrance with a large arched opening give the building its character. It is one of eight schools erected in 1912-1914 on the same model, type 128, a group that includes the Edgar Allen Poe School, listed in 1986. The school reflects the School Board's building program from its 1905 reorganization to World War I, a program that accompanied Philadelphia's growth from 1.3 million residents in 1900 to over 1.8 million in 1920. Rear additions of 1927 and 1968 leave its design largely intact.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the school is significant for its place in the history of education and school architecture in Philadelphia. It belongs to a group of eight schools built to the same type between 1912 and 1914, and it shows Richards's ability to vary a single expandable structural form and plan. The building is said to retain its integrity despite rear additions of 1927 and 1968.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 88002246, listed November 18, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 900 W. Lindley St., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | November 18, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88002246 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1912-1913 |
| Architect / builder | Henry deCourcy Richards (architect); H. H. Wehmeyer (builder) |
| Architectural style | Tudor Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition recorded as good, with integrity rated very good. |
| Acreage | 2.5 |
| Coordinates | 40.02934, -75.13850 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 88002246.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5530789
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.