Edward W. Bok Technical High School

Last updated
Edward Bok Technical High School
Bok School Philly.jpg
Street map of Philadelphia and surrounding area.png
Red pog.svg
USA Pennsylvania location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location1901 South 9th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Coordinates 39°55′33″N75°9′37″W / 39.92583°N 75.16028°W / 39.92583; -75.16028
Area1 acre (0.40 ha)
Built1938
Architect Irwin T. Catharine
MPS Philadelphia Public Schools TR
NRHP reference No. 86003264 [1]
Added to NRHPDecember 4, 1986

The Edward W. Bok Technical High School was a public high school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, designed by Irwin T. Catharine and named after literary figure Edward William Bok, editor of the Ladies' Home Journal. It was completed in February 1938 by the Public Works Administration (WPA) as a vocational high school at 8th & Mifflin Streets. As part of the Philadelphia Public Schools' Multiple Property Submission, the school was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in December, 1986. Bok High School was reorganized in 2006-2007 to prepare students for jobs in modern technology. After the 2012-2013 school year, the school was closed. In 2014, the school was renovated to become a home for over 200 businesses including restaurants, art studios, daycares, and hair salons.

Contents

History

Corridor in Bok in 2019. Philly School Interior 2019.jpg
Corridor in Bok in 2019.

The building was constructed from 1935-1938 based on the designs of Philadelphia School Board architect Irwin Catharine. The main body of the school is built of limestone-trimmed yellow brick, with a limestone low-rise section abutting the higher brick section. Piers and pilasters emphasize verticality in the Art Deco design. Carved cartouches show people at work. Classrooms adjoin one of two central light courts. At the time of its construction, the building represented a new trend in vocational education. Rather than just teach carpentry skills, the school taught, and had dedicated space for, subjects such as brick laying, plastering, plumbing, machine building, tailoring, and hairdressing. [2]

The school was named for Edward Bok (1863–1930), a Dutch born American editor and Pulitzer Prize-winning author, who edited the Ladies Home Journal for thirty years.

Following the school's 2013 closing, some of the classes moved into the South Philadelphia High School (SPHS or Southern) building, 5 blocks away, prior to the start of the 2013-14 school year.[ citation needed ] Bok was scheduled to merge with South Philadelphia High. [3] The building itself remained open for maintenance & operational reasons for at least 1 additional heating season as the boilers supply heat to Southwark School across the street.[ citation needed ]

Sale and Redevelopment

In Summer 2014, Bok was put up for auction by the School District and the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC). [4] Scout was selected as the developer in September 2014 and proposed converting the building into a new destination for makers, creatives, innovators and entrepreneurs. [5] [6] The building was redeveloped for commercial use in the creative sector, including both offices and workshops, as well as restaurants and a bar. [7]

Academic programs

Programs were designed to develop students into well-rounded individuals. In addition to regular academic and vocational course offerings, there were specialized programs in Business Technology Computer Assisted Design (CAD), Construction Trades, Culinary Arts, Computer/Networking, Health Related Sciences, Process Technology and Welding.

Auto mechanics was also an elective. The 1967 alumni class included known Mixologist, John C. Lackey.

Bok offered men's and women's interscholastic sports including: football, baseball, basketball, soccer, softball, track and field, volleyball, badminton, cheerleading, drill, team, and weight training. After School Clubs provided special enrichment activities for students. Bok was the only community high school in the city housing programs such as Sunrise of Philadelphia, Inc. and Variety the Children's Charity

Recognition

As of 2010, Bok had achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for 5 years straight.[ citation needed ] It has since been determined that their principal, Arthur "Larry" Melton, altered test answers to obtain that distinction. Their scores predictably returned to pre-scandal levels once Melton was convicted of cheating on the PSSA (Pennsylvania System of School Assessment).

Notable alumni

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philadelphia Military Academy</span> Public, military high school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

The Philadelphia Military Academy (PMA) is a military school that is located in North Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The school opened for the 2004–2005 school year as the Philadelphia Military Academy at Leeds in the East Mt. Airy neighborhood of Philadelphia, with an enrollment of 157 ninth grade cadets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Communications Technology High School</span> School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.

Communications Technology High School was a public high school serving grades 9–12 located at 8110 Lyons Avenue in the Hedgerow neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The school, which was located next to George Pepper Middle School, was part of the School District of Philadelphia's Comprehensive High School Region; in its later years, it operated as a campus of John Bartram High School, which is still in operation. In 2013, amid the rapid growth of publicly-funded charter schools in Philadelphia, the City shut down Communications Technology High School, along with 22 other district-run schools, to cut costs and consolidate the district's remaining students on fewer campuses. Students enrolled at Communications Technology at the time were automatically re-enrolled at the main campus of John Bartram High School.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roberts Vaux Junior High School</span> United States historic place

The Promise Academy at Roberts Vaux High School is an historic, American high school building that is located in the North Central neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Rowen School</span> United States historic place

William Rowen Elementary School is an historic, American elementary school that is located in the West Oak Lane neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Murrell Dobbins Career and Technical Education High School</span> United States historic place

Murrell Dobbins Career & Technical Education High School, also known as Murrell Dobbins Vocational High School, is a historic vocational school building located in the West Lehigh neighborhood of North Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the School District of Philadelphia. The building was designed by Irwin T. Catharine and built between 1936–1937. It is a six- to seven-story, 14-bay, brick building in the Moderne-style. It has a one-story, stone front building. It features brick piers with terracotta tops and the building has terra cotta trim.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thaddeus Stevens School of Observation</span> United States historic place

The Thaddeus Stevens School of Observation is an historic, American school building that is located in the Poplar neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spring Garden School No. 1</span> United States historic place

The Spring Garden School No. 1 is an historic, American school building that is located in the Poplar neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spring Garden School</span> United States historic place

Spring Garden School is a public K-8 school in the Poplar neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is a part of the School District of Philadelphia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penn Treaty School</span> United States historic place

The Penn Treaty School is an American public school that is located in the Fishtown area of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A part of the School District of Philadelphia, it serves students in grades six through twelve and was formerly known as the Penn Treaty Junior High School and Penn Treaty Middle School.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warren G. Harding Middle School</span> United States historic place

The Warren G. Harding Middle School is an historic, American middle school that is located in the Frankford neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is part of the School District of Philadelphia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">D. Newlin Fell School</span> United States historic place

D. Newlin Fell School is a public elementary school located in the East Oregon neighborhood of South Philadelphia. It is part of the School District of Philadelphia, and shares a site with the George C. Thomas Junior High School. It was named in honor of D. Newlin Fell, who served as a Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court from 1894 to 1910 and Chief Justice until 1915.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">F. Amadee Bregy School</span> United States historic place

F. Amadee Bregy School is a historic school located in the Marconi Plaza neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is part of the School District of Philadelphia. The building was designed by Irwin T. Catharine and built in 1923–1924. It is a three-story, nine-bay, brick building on a raised basement in the Colonial Revival-style. It features large stone arched surrounds, double stone cornice, projecting entrance pavilion, and a brick parapet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eliza Butler Kirkbride School</span> United States historic place

Eliza Butler Kirkbride School is a K–8 school located in the Passyunk Square neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is a part of the School District of Philadelphia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fanny Jackson Coppin School</span> United States historic place

Fanny Jackson Coppin School, previously Federal Street School and then Andrew Jackson School, is a public K-8 school located in the Passyunk Square neighborhood of South Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is a part of the School District of Philadelphia. The school was previously named for United States President Andrew Jackson before changing the name in 2021 to honor former Philadelphia teacher Fanny Jackson Coppin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vare-Washington School</span> United States historic place

Vare-Washington School, is a K-8 school in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. It is a part of the School District of Philadelphia. It occupies the former George Washington School building in the Dickinson Narrows neighborhood, in proximity to Southwark.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walter George Smith School</span> United States historic place

The Walter George Smith School is a former American school building that is located in the Point Breeze neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William M. Meredith School</span> United States historic place

William M. Meredith School is a public K-8 school located in the Queen Village neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is a part of the School District of Philadelphia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Universal Vare Charter School</span> United States historic place

The Universal Vare Charter School, formerly the Edwin H. Vare Junior High School, and Edwin H. Vare Middle School, is a historic junior high school building located in the Wilson Park neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. It is currently a charter school run by Universal Family of Schools.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William T. Tilden Middle School</span> United States historic place

The William T. Tilden Middle School is an historic, American middle school that is located in the Paschall neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is part of the School District of Philadelphia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mastery Charter School Mann Elementary</span> United States historic place

The Mastery Charter School Mann Elementary, formerly known as the William B. Mann School, is an historic, American school that is located in the Wynnefield neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is a charter school run by Mastery Charter Schools.

References

  1. ↑ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. ↑ B. Mintz, Pennsylvania Historic Resources Survey: Edward Bok Vocational School . Harrisburg: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, July 1986. Accessed 2010-09-30. To access this file type "public" as your ID and "public" as your password.
  3. ↑ Schliefer, Thoms (2013-08-09). "Challenge to ease tensions between merging Phila. schools". The Philadelphia Inquirer . Archived from the original on 2015-10-18. Retrieved 2016-11-17.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  4. ↑ "None".
  5. ↑ "Young Developer Will Create Philadelphia's Largest Creative Community Space". nextcity.org.
  6. ↑ Saffron, Inga (2014-11-28). "Changing Skyline: Bringing Bok back". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. D01. Archived from the original on 2015-02-20. Retrieved 2020-06-05.
  7. ↑ "BOK Building". BOK. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.