Fleischer, Helen, Vocational School
Also known as: Stoddart--Fleischer School
Why it's listed
Built between 1925 and 1927 at 21st Street and the Parkway in Philadelphia, this five-story brick and limestone school was designed by John D. Cassell, then Superintendent of Buildings for the Philadelphia School District. It rises across seven bays and rests on a limestone base. Its main entrance is a large Gothic compound arch supported by limestone columns, with applied pilasters rising through the upper floors and carved limestone lanterns above the roofline. The building is arranged around a square plan with a central light court. It was designed as a vocational training school for girls, reflecting the district's commitment to educational opportunities for women. The nomination describes it as the only vocational training school built exclusively for women between 1900 and 1945, and it is significant for education and architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is an important work by John D. Cassell during his tenure as Superintendent of Buildings, and that it is large and impressively detailed. It was designed as a vocational training school for girls and is described as the only vocational training school created exclusively for women built between 1900 and 1945. Its square plan with a central light court is also noted.
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 86003282, listed December 4, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Thirteenth and Brandywine Sts., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | December 4, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86003282 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1925-1936 |
| Architect / builder | John D. Cassell |
| Architectural style | Academic Gothic |
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The form lists the present use as school and the condition as good. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 39.96318, -75.15956 (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 86003282.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5702255
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.