Adelphi School

Adelphi School is a brick building from the early 1800s located on Spring Street with a balanced facade typical of Federal-era design. The structure features symmetrical proportions, regularly spaced windows, and doorways characteristic of that period's architectural approach.

The building was constructed in 1831 as a free school founded by Quakers to serve disadvantaged children. It operated for over 70 years before closing in 1906 as educational needs and community circumstances shifted.

The school represented a commitment to education for children who could not afford private instruction. Families in the neighborhood relied on this institution as a gateway to learning and opportunity.

The building sits on Spring Street in the Chinatown neighborhood and is easily visible from the sidewalk. Since it is a historic structure, it is best viewed and photographed from the street without entering the premises.

This is Philadelphia's last remaining example of a free school structure from the early 19th-century education reform movement. Its survival makes it a rare testimony to a period when communities took on the responsibility of educating all children.

Location: Philadelphia

Inception: 1831

Architectural style: Federal architecture

Address: 1223–1225 Spring Street

GPS coordinates: 39.95640,-75.16000

Latest update: December 13, 2025 11:42