Furness High School, high school in Pennsylvania, United States
Furness High School is a secondary school in South Philadelphia serving students in grades 9 through 12. The building spans about two acres and displays late Gothic Revival features with large arched doorways, brick walls, and terra cotta ornamental details.
The building was constructed from 1913 to 1914 as an elementary school and later transformed into a junior high school named after Horace Furness, a Shakespeare scholar. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986 and received its current name as a full high school in the early 1990s.
The school reflects the diversity of the neighborhood, where students speak more than 25 different languages. This linguistic and cultural mix shapes daily life here and shows how different communities learn and live together.
The school is located on South Third Street and is easily accessible by public transit, with several bus lines including routes 29, 57, and 79 serving the area. The grounds are well situated, and visitors can view the school from the outside or walk around the property to appreciate its architectural features.
The building was designed by architect Henry deCourcy Richards in the late Gothic Revival style, setting it apart from other school buildings in the city. This uncommon architectural choice gives the school a dignified and distinctive appearance that it has maintained for more than a century.
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