Logan Demonstration School
Also known as: Logan School
Why it's listed
At the southwest corner of 17th and Lindley Streets in Philadelphia stands a three-story brick elementary school built in 1923-1924 on a raised brick basement. Designed by Irwin T. Catharine and built by Sinclair & Grigg, it is one of eight schools erected from School Board Type Number 137, a standard plan that followed design principles set out by H. deCourcy Richards when he was Chief Designer for the district. The building has a nine-bay front with recessed outer bays, stone arched surrounds on the first level, a double stone cornice, and a brick parapet with the school's name carved into it. Its side elevations have a projecting entrance pavilion framed by double pilasters and a large arched opening. The school was part of an ambitious building program in which the district authorized eight junior high schools and thirteen elementary schools between 1921 and 1923. It is regarded as a model for demonstration schools in the city and the nation. Its windows were replaced around 1986, which the nomination weighed against its overall integrity.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the school is significant for its role in the School District of Philadelphia's building program of the early 1920s, when many schools were authorized. It is one of eight elementary schools built from the same set of plans, School Board Type Number 137, and is regarded as a model for demonstration schools. The building is listed as part of the Philadelphia Public Schools Thematic District despite later window replacement.
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 88002293, listed November 18, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 5000 N. 17th St., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | November 18, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88002293 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1923-1924 |
| Architect / builder | Irwin T. Catharine (architect); Sinclair & Grigg (builder) |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The windows were replaced around 1986 as part of a general window replacement program. |
| Acreage | 3.3 |
| Coordinates | 40.03094, -75.15198 (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 88002293.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6666994
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.