Mary Channing Wister School

Mary Channing Wister School
Mary Channing Wister School entrance, August 2010
Location843–855 N. 8th St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Coordinates39°58′01″N 75°09′02″W / 39.9670°N 75.1505°W / 39.9670; -75.1505
Arealess than one acre
Built1925–1926
Built byMcCloskey & Co.
ArchitectIrwin T. Catharine
Architectural styleArt Deco
MPSPhiladelphia Public Schools TR
NRHP reference No.88002333[1]
Added to NRHPNovember 18, 1988

The Mary Channing Wister School, originally the Mary Channing Wister Public School, is a historic American school building in the Poplar neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.[1]

History and architectural features

Designed by Irwin T. Catharine, this historic structure was built between 1925 and 1926. It is a three-story, three-bay, brick building that sits on a raised basement. It was created in the Art Deco style. An addition was built in 1960. It features a freestanding portico with Doric order columns and decorative tile.[2] It is named for the civic leader Mary Channing Wister, the wife of Owen Wister.

In 2001, the building was renovated to become a new forensic science laboratory for the Philadelphia Police Department.[3] While the facade remains true to the original design with little change, the inside of the building was completely renovated and designated a Green building. The new laboratory is called the Forensic Science Center, and is operated by the Office of Forensic Science within the Philadelphia Police Department.

References

  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ Jefferson M. Moak (May 1987). National Register of Historic Places Registration: Pennsylvania MPS Wister, Mary Channing, School. National Archives and Records Administration. Retrieved January 5, 2026. (Downloading may be slow.)
  3. ^ Gambacorta, David (August 6, 2009). "Behind-the-scenes crimefighters". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved March 11, 2017.