Former Special Education School Building in Philadelphia PA

Charles Carroll Public School, Philadelphia Pennsylvania

Date added: November 12, 2024

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On March 23^rd, 1846, the current site of the Charles Carroll Public School was purchased by the Philadelphia School Review Board from Joseph J. Ball and his wife for $7,527.93. The rectangular lot extended from Salmon Street on the east to Edgemont Street to the west, which was an unusually large plot of land for a school during this period. The 3-story, brick building, that was subsequently constructed on the site, faced Salmon Street and contained six classrooms with an open playground to the west. Known as the Richmond School until 1848, the building was renamed after founding father Charles Carroll, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. By the early 1920s, a comprehensive school building survey determined that this building had become too small to serve the growing community around it. Irwin T. Catharine, Chief Architect for the Philadelphia Board of Education, was commissioned to design a new building on the same site. As Catharine often chose to move newly constructed schools to alternative locations within the same community, it is worth noting that this school remained in place.

The new building designed by Catherine, which would continue to be known as the Charles Carroll Public School, was completed in 1923. Constructed of steel and concrete and faced in brick with limestone detailing, this building was oriented toward Auburn Street, to the north. The site was also expanded to the north, to encompass the thirteen lots fronting along Auburn and Salmon Streets. The building contained twelve classrooms, most of which had moveable partitions, with ancillary spaces such bathrooms and administrative offices. This was all in keeping with Catharine's general programmatic theory, which called for specialized interior spaces but deemphasized the role of schools as community centers, which perhaps explains why there was no dedicated auditorium space, particularly one that gave direct public access. Also in keeping with Catherine's theories was the use of the building as a specialty school that would serve "special class children … ". At the time, it was very unusual to have a specialty public school that served anyone other than an elementary-aged populace. This also continued the function of the earlier Charles Carroll Public School, which was converted for use as a "special school" in 1904.

There were no significant changes to the school building or the academic program until early 1965, when the Philadelphia Board of Education hired Harry E. Saunders, an independent consultant, to undertake a survey of all existing public school buildings in the city. Saunders was tasked with evaluating the schools for both form and function and with making recommendations as to how they could be renovated or rebuilt to best serve the community. In his review of the Charles Carroll Public School, Saunders reported that the building was used as a remedial education center for 133 boys. Although it was already decades old, the school embodied many of the physical principles that Saunders advocated, including square, as opposed to rectangular, classrooms, adequate and well-positioned circulation, and sufficient outdoor space. Still, Saunders saw room for improvement, making recommendations to convert some of the classrooms to technical spaces, to install intercom systems, and to enlarge the building with a new addition for lunchroom facilities, a gymnasium and a play yard.

Due to its programmatic advantages, the Board of Education ultimately decided to retain the existing school, but also to enlarge it with a new addition to provide some of the functions recommended by Saunders, and others. But any expansion of the building would prove to be a major challenge considering that most of the area south of the building was occupied by small rowhouses. In 1966, the first proposal for the new addition called for the clearing of ninety homes at the south end of the block to provide three acres for expansion. It was later determined that the expansion would require the demolition of fewer homes (twenty-three) along with four empty lots, the latter proposed for use as parking.

Occupants in the houses slated for demolition overwhelmingly objected to the Charles Carroll Public School expansion, with over 90% of homeowners opposed to the new addition. The residents, many of whom had lived in their homes for generations, expressed concerns over being displaced. Port Richmond had recently endured a recent wave of displacement due to larger city urban renewal campaigns, including the construction of the Delaware Expressway (Interstate 95), which cut right through a swathe of the neighborhood's southeastern corner. Additionally, the school board's offer to compensate residents $8000 per home met with objections that comparable housing in the area was valued at $11,000. City Council representatives for the affected area, acting in response to lobbying by citizens of Port Richmond and other neighborhoods undergoing similar school construction and expansion, accused the school board of abusing its power. However, despite these objections, plans for the expansion of the Carroll School proceeded with little modification.

Designed by the Philadelphia firm of Zimmerman, Wade, Langberg and Suggs in 1968, the addition consists of three sections to the east, west and south of the 1922 building, creating a courtyard in the center of the site, which was paved and landscaped and accessible to students. The western section (at the northeast corner of the site) is a three-story brick structure, which originally contained administrative space, with a long corridor and entrance pavilion extends south from the three-story portion to connect to the southern section. The southern section is a double-height, one-story brick structure that contains an auditorium and gymnasium, functions not accounted for in the original building but common to Philadelphia school additions during the 1960s and 70s. The location of the gymnasium and auditorium allowed it to be a part of the school but also virtually separate from it, which enabled the space to also be used by the community after school hours, thereby benefitting more than just the students who attended the school. The eastern section, fronting on Salmon Street, is a one-story brick structure that contained a garage and automotive shop. There was also a paved play yard to the south of the gymnasium/auditorium addition.

The 1970 addition was very much in keeping with Saunders recommendations about the Carroll School in particular and about the operations of school in general. Saunders believed in the importance of flexible facilities, such as the dual use gymnasium/auditorium, and that "spaces for administration, auditorium, physical education, library and cafeteria should be so located that they provide accessibility for both day and even school and scheduled community use." They also needed to have sufficient spaces for defined functions, such as an audio/visual department and open, play space, both of which were included as part of the new work.

As part of the work that took place in 1970, the interior of the original building was also updated. Again, as Saunders recommended, the classrooms were converted into technical training rooms, including spaces for music and music storage, upholstery and upholstery storage, valet and valet storage, as well as general classrooms, bathrooms in the basement and on the 2^nd floor and kitchen and dining areas. A public address system was also added to the building, again on the advice of Saunders.

Once construction was complete, the expanded building had a capacity of 325 "retarded" boys aged thirteen through eighteen who lived in District Five and were determined by a psychologist to be "slow learners." This "special school" provided an education for those who were felt to be "educable for employment" and aimed to train them to work in "private industry." This effort was at least initially successful as a 1967 newspaper article stated that the school was providing students training for jobs such as busboys and kitchen helpers. Preparation for union apprentice programs, including clothing, manufacturing and upholstering, was also provided as part of the school's revamped curriculum.

At the time the addition was constructed in 1970, it was typical for "remedial education pupils" to either attend specialized classes in standard elementary, junior and senior high schools or in wholly separate buildings. However, of all the schools built in Philadelphia between 1917 and 1926, the Charles Carroll Public School was the only one that was specifically used for remedial education for high school students. All of the other twelve schools built during this period accommodated only eighteen to thirty-six elementary school students within a larger school population.

After Congress mandated that all localities provide locally accessible education for special needs children in 1975, the Carroll School transitioned to a public high school, but retained its emphasis on vocational education, admitting students as a magnet school for those interested in pursuing technical careers after graduation. The school was in operation without any significant changes through 2013, at which time it was closed and sold to a private individual. It is currently vacant.

Architect Irwin T. Catharine (1884-1944)

Irwin T. Catharine graduated from Drexel University in Philadelphia in 1903 and began working as an architect for the Philadelphia Board of Education shortly thereafter. Although his father, Joseph W. Catharine, was chairman of the board at that time, Catharine clearly demonstrated an aptitude for school design that he would carry throughout his career. In 1918, he was made Chief Architect for the School District of Philadelphia and, in 1931, he was promoted to Superintendent of Building. He held this position until 1937 when he retired. During his career, Catharine built 104 new schools, added on to twenty-six schools and altered an additional fifty. Clearly, his impact on the school system of Philadelphia was tremendous.

Catharine was heavily influenced by his predecessor, Henry DeCoursey Richards and continued his program of standardizing academic design, providing an emphasis on health, safety and economics. Like Richards, Catharine believe that a standardized set of blueprints, which could be adjusted based on the location, size and function of a given school, would not only serve to expedite and economize the construction process but would also provide the highest level of educational service to the students.

In the early to mid-1920s, Catharine primarily followed the stylistic tradition of Richards and primarily designed in the Colonial and Classical Revival styles. While his later work would become more ambitious, expanding into styles as Art Deco and Moderne, the Charles Carroll Public School represents this earliest manifestation of stylistic and programmatic principles that would set the tone for academic architecture in Philadelphia through the end of the 20^th Century.

As a Classical Revival style building that was clad in brown brick with limestone detailing, the Charles Carroll Public High School is both representative of the major stylistic trend of Revivalist school design in the early 20^th Century and follows the trend toward Revivalist styles throughout the Philadelphia public school systems at that time. The Charles Carroll Public High School is representative of this with its symmetrical facade and floor plan, prominent main entrance, stepped pediment, regular fenestration pattern and brick and limestone detailing. The design of the school not only established it as a formal institution, but also simultaneously rendered it accessible through its aesthetic familiarity.

There are numerous examples of Catharine's academic work in Philadelphia in the 1920s, which tend to be either Colonial Revival or Classical Revival in style. Of the former, two of Catharine's earliest schools were the Paterson School and the Ferguson School, both designed between 1920 and 1921. Catharine also constructed nearly eight identical junior high schools in the Colonial Revival style between 1922 and 1924, including Mayer Sulzberger, Shaw, Cooke and Roosevelt. Catharine's earliest Classical Revival style school is the Ferguson School, originally known as the Rutledge School, which dates to 1921. The Charles Carroll Public School is Catharine's earliest known Classical Revival style school. Later schools in the same style include the Beeber Junior High School, which dates to 1925, Wagner Middle School, which dates to 1927, and Woodrow Wilson Middle School, which dates to 1928.

Building Description

The Charles Carroll Public School is located on the south side of E. Auburn Street in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia, PA. The initial 2 ½-story school was built in the Classical Revival style between 1922 and 1923, and was designed by Irwin T. Catharine. In 1970, a one and two story rear addition was constructed to the south, east and west to provide additional programmatic space. The building has an "O"-shaped footprint with an interior courtyard. The 1922 building is clad in brown brick with limestone detailing and a flat roof with a stepped brick parapet and a limestone cap. The 1970 addition is constructed of red brick with concrete detailing and a flat roof. The north elevation of the building is slightly recessed from E. Auburn Street and is directly abutted by an open grassy area and a concrete sidewalk. Concrete sidewalks also extend along the east and south elevations. On the west elevation, the north end has an open grassy area with street trees and the south end has an open, paved area. A concrete sidewalk separates these from Edgemont Street. The center courtyard has a grassy section to the west and a paved section to the east. The building has original hairpin metal fencing along the north elevations and the north ends of the east and west elevations, which is marked with the letters "PPS" indicating that it was part of a Philadelphia public school. At the south end of the west elevation is contemporary metal fencing with painted brick piers.

1922 Section - Exterior

The school's north (primary) elevation, facing E. Auburn Street, is five bays wide. The elevation is clad in brown brick, which is partially painted along the base and there is paneled brick detailing throughout. There is a limestone stringcourse between the basement and 1^st floor and above the 2^nd floor windows. The window openings have limestone sills and limestone keystones and end stones in the heads. The brick panels are also accented with limestone detailing. Above the center bay on the 2^nd floor is a limestone plaque reading "Charles Carroll Public School." The three center bays protrude from the main block. In the basement, the outermost bays contain a single 1/1 aluminum replacement window and the second and fourth bays from the east contain three 1/1 aluminum replacement windows. On the 1^st floor, the outermost bays contain a 1/1 aluminum replacement window flanked by 1/1 aluminum replacement sidelights. The second and fourth bays from the east contain quintipartite 1/1 aluminum replacement windows. The center bay contains a double-leaf replacement metal door with an infilled metal transom. The entrance has an elaborate limestone surround with a bracketed and dentiled cornice, a centered, limestone plaque reading "1922" and is topped by a limestone acroterion. All window openings in the basement and 1^st floor are covered by metal security grilles. On the 2^nd floor, the first, third and fifth bays from the east contain a 1/1 aluminum replacement window flanked by 1/1 aluminum replacement sidelights. The second and fourth bays from the east contain quintipartite 1/1 aluminum replacement windows.

The west elevation is primarily abutted by the western 1970 addition. The exposed portion is clad in brown brick with paneled brick and limestone detailing. There are no openings.

The south elevation faces the inner courtyard and is four bays wide. It is clad in brown brick with paneled brick and limestone detailing. The window openings all have limestone sills and segmental brick heads. The basement and 1^st floor units all have metal security grilles. In the basement, all bays contain three 1/1 replacement aluminum windows. On the 1^st and 2^nd floors, all bays contain quintipartite 1/1 replacement aluminum windows.

The east elevation is four bays wide. The elevation is clad in brown brick, which is partially painted along the base and there is paneled brick detailing throughout. There is a cast stone stringcourse between the basement and 1^st floor and above the 2^nd floor windows. The window openings have limestone sills and limestone keystones and end stones in the heads. The brick panels are also accented with limestone detailing. Above the center bay on the 2^nd floor is a blank limestone plaque. The two center bays protrude from the main block. The basement and 1^st floor are largely abutted by the eastern 1970 addition and the only openings are two 1/1 replacement aluminum windows at the north end of the 1^st floor. On the 2^nd floor, the two northernmost bays also contain a single 1/1 replacement aluminum window. The third bay from the north contains a double-height window with an arched limestone head and infilled brick transom. The wind unit consists of a 1/1 wood window flanked by 1/1 wood sidelights and a 3-light wood transom. The southernmost bay has no openings. Above the 2^nd floor stringcourse are 1/1 replacement aluminum windows that flank the arched limestone window head.

1922 Section - Interior

The interior of the building is organized around a centered double-loaded corridor that extends from east to west. All of the classrooms are located to the north and south of the corridor and arranged in a linear fashion. Most of the original divisions between classrooms remain, as well as the storage and coat closets within the classrooms and the ancillary spaces, such as bathrooms and administrative areas.

As the school was in continuous use through 2013, the original finishes remain largely intact. In the basement, these are more utilitarian, including exposed and painted brick and cinderblock walls, exposed mechanical systems, linoleum tile floors and replacement metal hallway doors. On the 1^st and 2^nd floors, the classroom finishes consist of linoleum tile and wood floors, plaster and dropped acoustical tile ceilings, plaster and drywall partitions, fluorescent lighting, wood window trim, picture rail and baseboards and original and replacement chalkboards. In those rooms where the original coat and storage closets remain, there are glazed interior, varnished wood doors and multi-light wood transoms. Select rooms also have other built-in wood elements, such as bookcases, cabinets and foldable wood partitions. The hallway finishes are also largely intact and include scored, polished concrete floors and baseboards, plaster walls and ceilings, wood picture rail, 3-panel, 1-light, varnished wood doors and fluorescent lighting.

At the east and west ends of the main hallway are the two primary, U-return stairways, which extend between all floors. The stairs have painted metal treads risers, painted metal balusters, wood railings and scored concrete landings. As the 1^st floor is elevated, there is also a short set of steps in the center of the north elevation, which provides access between the main entrance and the hallway. These stairways have marble treads and risers, wood railings and a scored concrete landing. The building has no elevators.

1970 Section - Exterior

The north elevation of the 1970 addition faces E. Auburn Street and is comprised of two sections. The western section is three bays wide and 3-stories in height. It is clad in red brick, which is painted along the base. There is also a concrete panel along the west end of the roofline. The easternmost bay is recessed from the remainder of the elevation and has a single-leaf, replacement metal door to the east of a double-leaf, replacement metal door to the west on the 1^st floor. The upper floors have no openings. The two westernmost bays have 1/1 aluminum windows on each floor that are separated by glass spandrel panels. There are also two louvered metal grilles near the center of the elevation. The eastern section is 1-story in height. It is clad in red brick and there is a concrete panel along the roofline. There is only one opening, which consists of an elevated double-leaf aluminum door with 1-light aluminum sidelights at the west end.

The west elevation of the 1970 addition faces Edgemont Street and is composed of two sections. The northern section is five bays wide and 3-stories in height. The southern section is twelve bays wide and 1-story in height. Both sections are clad in red brick with painted portions along the base. In the northern section, all openings contain a 1/1 aluminum windows with a 1-light aluminum transom above. Projecting perpendicularly from the elevation and adjacent to the window openings are narrow concrete panels. In the southern section, the ten northernmost openings contain recessed 1/1 aluminum windows above a glass spandrel panel. There are also five concrete panels across the roofline. The two southernmost bays are recessed behind an overhang fronted by three concrete panels that are supported by three painted brick columns. The facade beneath the overhang is of painted brick with two double-leaf metal doors. The north facade is also of painted brick and contains a centered double-leaf metal door flanked by 1/1 aluminum windows above a glass spandrel panel.

The south elevation of the 1970 addition is composed of three sections. All are clad in red brick with painted portions along the base and are located in different planes. The western section is two bays wide and 3-stories in height. All openings contain 1/1 aluminum windows on each floor that are separated by glass spandrel panels. There are also two louvered metal grilles near the center of the elevation. The center section is 2-stories in height and has no openings. The eastern section is 1-story in height and has a concrete panel that extends along the roofline. There is only one opening, which consists of an elevated double-leaf aluminum door with 1-light aluminum sidelights at the west end. The entrance is accessed by concrete steps with a pipe metal railing.

The east elevation of the 1970 addition faces Salmon Street and is nine bays wide. It is 1-story in height and clad in red brick, which is painted along the base. Each bay is topped by a concrete panel. The first, eighth and ninth bays from the south have brick infill and a 4-light aluminum transom window along the top. The second and seventh bays from the south have a single-leaf metal door, brick infill and a 4-light aluminum transom window along the top. The third through sixth bays from the south contain garage-style metal doors below a light aluminum transom.

The construction of the 1970 addition resulted in an interior courtyard, the south, east and west elevations of which date to 1970. The east and west elevations are clad in red brick with concrete panels along the roofline. The window openings all contain 1/1 aluminum windows above a glass spandrel panel. The south elevation is clad in red brick and has no openings.

1970 Section - Interior

The interior of the 1970 building is divided into different sections based on the programmatic function. The 3-story western section is divided into a series of smaller rooms on all floors, as it was originally used as administrative and ancillary spaces. To the south of this along the west elevation is an open connector hallway. The south side of the addition contained a double-height auditorium and gymnasium, with a stage at the west end and locker space to the east. The eastern section consists of an open hallway to the west and a garage and automotive shop to the west. The finishes in the 1970 addition are typical of the period and include painted cinder block and exposed brick walls, linoleum tile flooring, dropped acoustical tile ceilings, fluorescent lighting, flush wood and metal classroom doors and painted drywall partitions.