Ferguson, Joseph C., School
Why it's listed
Built in 1921-1922 for the School District of Philadelphia, this three-story brick school stands on a raised brick basement at 21st and Winter Streets. Its nine bays have recessed outer registers, stone arched surrounds on the first floor, and stone cornices above the second and third floors. A brick parapet with a carved stone name panel crowns the front, and a one-story entrance pavilion with double pilasters marks the entrance. The building was one of several constructed during the 1920s, when the district built 77 new schools in the city. Irwin T. Catharine used the same plan and elevations for eight schools, and this was the first, begun in 1921. Its design reflects Colonial Revival detailing with Regency-inspired ornament. The school is significant for its role in Philadelphia's expansion of public education and for its representation of standardized school architecture of the period. A rear addition was made in 1962.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the school is significant for its place in the history of education and school architecture in Philadelphia. It was the first of eight schools built to the same plan and elevations (Type 137) during a period of rapid growth in the city's school system. The building is considered to retain integrity despite a 1962 addition to the rear.
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 88002270, listed November 18, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2000--2046 7th St., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | November 18, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88002270 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1921-1922 |
| Architect / builder | Irwin T. Catharine (architect) |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition recorded as good; in use as a school |
| Acreage | 2.5 |
| Coordinates | 39.98212, -75.14625 (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 88002270.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6281872
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.