South Side School, Schule in den Vereinigten Staaten
South Side School is a school building in Florida constructed in 1923 and featuring Mediterranean Revival architecture with stucco walls, a flat roof with decorative brick parapet, and narrow wooden-framed windows. The structure displays a simple but character-filled design with tile accents and wooden trim, and though it was expanded with side wings during the 1940s and 1950s, the original decorative details remain visible throughout.
South Side School was constructed in 1923 to accommodate the rapidly growing student population in Fort Lauderdale during the 1920s land boom, replacing an earlier wooden schoolhouse from 1899 that could no longer serve the expanding community. It was expanded with side wings during the 1940s and 1950s to meet continued demand, then ceased operations as an elementary school in 1967 and was later repurposed for special education and offices.
The school served as the educational heart of Fort Lauderdale for generations of families in the early and mid-twentieth century. Its Mediterranean Revival style, with stucco walls and decorative tile details, reflected the town's connection to broader architectural trends that made it feel welcoming and accessible to the growing community.
The building is located at the corner of South Andrews Avenue and 7th Street within Florence C. Hardy Park, where visitors can explore the exterior architecture and surroundings on foot. The windows are currently boarded up for preservation, but the original brick work, arches, and tile accents remain visible from the outside.
The building played a key role during Fort Lauderdale's explosive growth in the 1920s when the town transformed from a small settlement into a rapidly expanding city, serving as an anchor point for community identity. Many of the original decorative details, such as tiles and pilasters, lie hidden beneath newer coverings, yet they preserve the story of an era when the entire region underwent dramatic change.
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