Franklin, Benjamin, School
Why it's listed
Built in 1915-1916 on Rising Sun Avenue in Philadelphia, this two-story brick school was designed by H. deCourcy Richards and constructed by William R. Dougherty. It stands on a raised brick basement and has five bays, with carved stone and terra cotta surrounds at the entrances and a carved stone panel bearing the school's name at the center. A stone cornice runs below a brick parapet. Brick piers divide the bays, and terra cotta panels sit between the floors. A brick addition on the east side was added in 1931 and was designed by Irwin T. Catharine. A one-story addition from 1954 connects to the main building by a corridor. The building is regarded as a well preserved example of the Late Gothic Revival and Utilitarian styles Richards used widely during the 1910s. It is also the only school built from School Board Type Number 133. Its design and materials form the basis for its listing, which considers it part of a larger group of Philadelphia public schools.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is a well preserved example of the Late Gothic Revival and Utilitarian styles that Richards used in many of his 1910s designs. It is described as the only school built from School Board Type Number 133. The building is considered under Criterion C for architecture, and the additions are described as not significantly altering the original design.
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 88002274, listed November 18, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 5737--5741 Rising Sun Ave., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | November 18, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88002274 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1915-1916 |
| Architect / builder | H. deCourcy Richards (architect); William R. Dougherty (builder) |
| Architectural style | Late Gothic Revival; Utilitarian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Good condition; school use; integrity rated fair to good |
| Acreage | 2.1 |
| Coordinates | 40.04253, -75.10441 (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 88002274.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4888665
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.