Fulton, Robert, School
Why it's listed
Brick and limestone school building in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, designed in the Moderne style under Superintendent of Buildings Irwin T. Catharine. The building is designated Building Type No. 169 and is one of three schools constructed to this same design, the others being the George Meade and George Washington Schools. Catharine's office sought to make its school buildings stand out from surrounding architecture, and this one is marked by a high level of sophistication. Its size, scale, materials and ornamentation are regarded as a superb example of the Moderne period, particularly for its restrained detailing. The property was listed for its architectural distinction, as a well-preserved example of the city's school design under Catharine's office in the 1930s and after.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the school is an impressive example of the Moderne style, with understated detailing and ornamentation that suit its size, scale and materials. It is one of three schools built to this design, the others being the George Meade and George Washington Schools. The form treats it as exceptionally significant in architecture.
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 86003284, listed December 4, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence low).
Key facts
| Address | 60--68 E. Haines St., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | December 4, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86003284 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Irwin T. Catharine (superintendent of buildings, designer) |
| Architectural style | Moderne |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Within district | Colonial Germantown Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.03938, -75.17498 (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 86003284.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15272830
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.