Cassidy, Lewis C., School
Why it's listed
Built between 1922 and 1924 on Lansdowne Avenue in Philadelphia, this three-story brick school sits on a raised brick basement and was designed by Irwin T. Catharine for the School District of Philadelphia. The building is one of eight elementary schools erected from the same School Board Type Number 137 plans during an ambitious early-1920s building program that also produced junior high schools and numerous additions. Its nine-bay front has stone arched surrounds on the first level, a stone cornice, and a brick parapet carrying the school's name carved in stone. Projecting one-story entrance pavilions with double pilasters and arched openings sit on both side elevations. The design follows standards established by H. deCourcy Richards, who served as the School Board's Chief Designer from 1906 to 1918. The building is included for its architecture as part of the Philadelphia Public Schools thematic group, although its windows have been replaced.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant as one of eight elementary schools built from the same School Board Type Number 137 plans in the early 1920s building program. It reflects the standards set by H. deCourcy Richards while he was Chief Designer between 1906 and 1918. It is nominated as part of the Philadelphia Public Schools Thematic District despite recent window replacement.
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 88002252, listed November 18, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 6523--6543 Lansdowne Ave., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | November 18, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88002252 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1922-1924 |
| Architect / builder | Irwin T. Catharine (architect); Sinclair & Grigg (builder) |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Windows were replaced during the School Board's system-wide conversion. |
| Acreage | 1.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.97509, -75.25047 (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 88002252.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6536372
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.