Wightman School, Schule in den Vereinigten Staaten
Wightman School is a historic school building in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, constructed in 1897 and originally called Colfax No. 5. The structure combines Classical Revival and Romanesque Revival architectural elements with brick and stone, featuring arches, columns, stained glass windows, and a stage across its large campus at the corner of Solway and Wightman Streets.
The building opened in 1897 as a five-room elementary school and was later expanded with eight additional rooms, a library, and a gymnasium, while being renamed in 1911 after businessman Thomas Wightman. The school operated until 1980, was then acquired by Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition in 1981, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.
The school was renamed to honor Thomas Wightman, a local businessman in the glass industry. Today it serves as a community gathering place where neighborhood groups and residents come together regularly.
The building is open today for various activities including dance classes, yoga, and community meetings, with a ballroom popular for dancing events. Recent renovations added elevator access and modern heating systems along with environmental standards for accessibility and comfortable use.
The building features elaborate decorative elements such as cherub carvings and stained glass that were added during its early twentieth-century expansion. These ornamental details give the Romanesque portion of the structure a distinctive appearance that sets it apart from many other school buildings of its era.
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