Holmes Junior High School
Also known as: Harambee Institute
Why it's listed
Built in 1916-1917 on Chestnut Street in Philadelphia, this three-story brick school sits on a raised brick basement and has a stone cornice, brick parapet and a carved stone panel bearing the school's name at its centre. Architect H. deCourcy Richards designed it, and Warren Moore & Company built it. The building was first opened as an elementary school. Shortly afterward, an auditorium and additional rooms were added, and the school was reorganized as a junior high school. The nomination regards it as apparently the first junior high school in Philadelphia, and so an early step in the city's development of schools specifically for that level. A large wing was added to the north elevation in 1917. The building was later renamed the Harambee Institute and still serves as a school. Its significance rests on its role in the evolution of public education in the city.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant as apparently the first junior high school in Philadelphia, which marks the beginning of the city's development of junior high schools. It was organized as a junior high school shortly after opening as an elementary school. The building is nominated as part of the Philadelphia Public Schools Thematic District.
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 88002281, listed November 18, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 5429--5455 Chestnut St., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | November 18, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88002281 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1916-1917 |
| Architect / builder | H. deCourcy Richards (architect); Warren Moore & Company (builder) |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is school; the Harambee Institute is the present name. |
| Acreage | 1.1 |
| Within district | Fairmount Park |
| Coordinates | 39.95945, -75.23074 (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 88002281.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5883582
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.