Mitchell, S. Weir, School
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built in 1915-1916 as a public school at 56th and Kingsessing Street in Philadelphia, the four-story red brick building was designed by Henry deCoursey Richards, with David Peoples as builder. It rises seven bays with terra cotta and granite trim, a limestone belt course above the basement, and double-hung four-over-four sash set within quoined surrounds. Its two projecting entrance bays flank the Kingsessing Street elevation, and the main entrance has an oversize Gothic arch surround, tracery panels, and tripartite doors beneath a transom. Diaper panels, gothic motifs and an arched gable parapet complete the decoration. The school is one of only three known examples of its building type, and it is regarded as an exceptionally intact Gothicized design by Richards. Its intricate ornament is considered unusual for Philadelphia public schools, which is the basis for its listing in the area of architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is one of only three known designs of its building type and an exceptionally intact Gothicized design by Richards. Its ornamented Gothic detailing, including a main entrance with oversize arch surround and tracery, is described as unusual for Philadelphia public schools. It is 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 86003309, listed December 4, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Fifty-sixth and Kingsessing St., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | December 4, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86003309 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1915-1916 |
| Architect / builder | H.deC. Richards (architect); David Peoples (builder) |
| Architectural style | Academic Gothic |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition recorded as fair on the survey form. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 39.93658, -75.22341 (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 86003309.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7387982
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.