Lea, Henry C., School of Practice
Also known as: Henry C. Lea School
Why it's listed
Built in 1914 at 47th Street and Locust Street in Philadelphia, the Henry C. Lea School is a three-story brick-faced reinforced concrete building with terra cotta and granite trim. Architect H. DeCourcy Richards designed it in the Late Gothic Revival style he used for many of his 1910 schools, and Cramp & Company built it. A classical limestone entrance surround marks the center of the main façade, and five stepped registers of double-hung windows run across the front. It was one of seven schools erected from School Board Type Number 128 between 1912 and 1914. The building is significant as one of the first designed as a demonstration school, a teaching concept later expanded in the 1920s. Additions made in 1954 and at an undated time sit at the rear, but the original building keeps most of its integrity. It was nominated for its role in early education design and its architecture.
Significance in brief: The form argues the school was one of the first buildings designed as a demonstration school, a concept later expanded in the 1920s. It is also presented as a good example of the Late Gothic Revival style Richards used for many of his 1910 schools. The building retains most of its original integrity despite unsympathetic rear additions. It 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 88002291, listed November 18, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 242 S. 47th St., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | November 18, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88002291 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1914 |
| Architect / builder | H. DeCourcy Richards (architect); Cramp & Company (builder) |
| Architectural style | Late Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Good condition; in school use |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Within district | West Philadelphia Streetcar Suburb Historic District |
| Coordinates | 39.95398, -75.21644 (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 88002291.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5719027
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.