The Original Northeast High School (built 1901) and later Thomas Edison High School (Closed in 1988) Thomas Edison High School/John Fareira Vocational Skills Center at the intersection of Front and Luzerne Streets is really nothing special to look at. In fact, it looks just like pretty much every other school in Philadelphia. It is a bland, rectangular building with a sign out front that was built many years ago. It’s nice enough on the outside, but on the inside it looks as though it has clearly seen better days. Before Edison/Fareira High School opened at its current location in 1988, the original location was located at 8th and Lehigh in North Philadelphia, and it was unlike any other school in Philadelphia. As you can see, the former Edison High School that resides at 8th and Lehigh has seen better days, but still looks pretty fascinating with its castle-style architecture. This building was constructed in 1901, and was originally known as the Northeast Manual Training High School. Soon afterwards, the school became the original Northeast High School. In 1957, a brand new Northeast High School was opened on Cottman and Algon Avenues. Almost all of the school’s sports trophies and staff was reassigned to the new Northeast High School, leaving this amazing building’s fate up in the air. Eventually, the school was renamed Thomas Edison High School, but was an all-boys school. Edison remained all male until 1979, when it finally became co-ed. By 1988, the School District of Philadelphia saw the need to build a new school for the students of this area and built the current Edison/Fareira High School at Front and Luzerne. Following the opening of the new Edison, the old building briefly became the site of the Julia de Burgo’s Magnet Middle School, before becoming condemned. Since then, the site was a favorite among those in Philadelphia who enjoy urban exploration. This building, like so many other abandoned and dilapidated structures in Philadelphia has a tragic history. Edison’s, however, takes a much more solemn tone. No high school in America lost more graduates during the Vietnam War than Edison High School, with a whopping 54 people. Also, the building was ravaged by a 4-alarm fire in August of 2011, and will likely be demolished soon. Despite all this, the old Edison High School remains an amazing site to be seen, for its architectural beauty, and a reminder of what once was.
Posted on: Sat, 01 Nov 2014 23:39:27 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015