The Wissahickon Valley Historical Society occupies the former 1895 School House, also known as the Whitpain High School. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.
The former schoolhouse was specially known for its unique Victorian-style architecture that gained the attention from the local, state, and national level. What else do we know about this school house? Who was behind the architecture design of the school house? Was there something there before the school house was built?
The Centre School
What stood before the 1895 school house was another school house that has been around since 1800. The name of the school during that time was the Centre School. It was named based on the location of the former school house, which in this case was located right in the center of Whitpain Township.
"The first school-house in the township was located near the centre, along the Skippack road, where the road leading to the Union Meeting-house intersects, and was taught by one William Knox about the year 1766 ... Centre School is now located near the original spot of the first school, and was erected in 1800."
- Bean, 1172
Dedication of Whitpain High School
In the summer of 1895, the Whitpain School Board agreed to build a new school house right where the former Centre School was located. They hired Lansdale architect Milton B. Bean to design the new school.
Fun Fact #1: Milton B. Bean was behind the design of Richard V. Mattison's Lindewold Castle
The school did not finish construction in time for back-to-school season, but when it was finally completed, the school was dedicated on November 20, 1895. It was considered the most "handsomest and best equipped rural school buildings in Montgomery county."
The first principal of the new high school was William D. Beyer, formally a principal at the Centre Square School.
Prior to the construction of the new high school, they held their first commencement at the St. John's Lutheran Church with six graduates. Whitpain historian Jones Detwiler presented the diplomas:
John C. McClosky
Mary K. Shoemaker
May I. Tippin
Anna L. Beideman
Emma L. Roberts
Maria Hoover
The Growing Population
After the Whitpain Township Consolidated Public School (WTCPU) was built to combine the six neighboring elementary schools, the two schools (1895 and WTCPU) divided the students: the Whitpain Township Consolidated Public School housed students from grades 1 to 8 while Whitpain High School housed students from grades 9 to 11. The seniors, meanwhile, went to either Ambler High School or Norristown High School, depending where they lived.
During the 1940s and 50s, more elementary schools were built due to the population growth in Whitpain. It caused a boom in enrollment at the Whitpain School District, and the Whitpain Public School opened their building for 5th and 6th graders. Later on, they opened up to kindergartners and special education classes who used the first floor of the Whitpain Public School.
Fun Fact #3: The last kindergarten class held at the Whitpain Public School took place in 1963.
Architecture
The architecture of the former school house is a combination of Queen Anne and Gothic Revival. The most notable feature on the building is the turret rising from a pendant base. The original design of the turret was a tall, Gothic bell tower with a catwalk and a quill weathervane. It was struck by lightning during a severe storm in 1923, and it was replaced by the current heptagonal turret design.
Also notable feature on the front facade is the arched porch opening with a decorative top, a date maker of the year the school was built, and the fancy wording above the entry saying, "Public School."
"The first floor of the schoolhouse held classes for students in grade one to eight and the second floor from nine to eleven. There were 30 – 40 students in the first floor classroom and the second floor classroom held 18 – 20 students. Attendance depended on chores or whether it was planting or harvesting time on the farm ... The school’s lunchroom was located in the basement while the principal’s office and library were located on the second floor ... Central heating was provided by a coal Smead-type heating system, modern for its time. The schoolhouse did not have electricity, lighting devices or plumbing. There were two small sheds outside, used as lavatories, one for the boys and one for the girls which were torn down prior to 1960. Drinking water was available at a pump located outside of the schoolhouse. A second floor lavatory was installed in 1956 and removed during the renovations in 2018. The first floor lavatory was installed in 1984 and updated in 2018."
- Wissahickon Valley Historical Society
A Special Note
As a celebration to the senior class of Wissahickon High School, take the time to reflect on how much you all have grown. With ups and downs you faced, you were able to conquer the challenges that came at you. Make your future bright, and enjoy the last moments at Wissahickon! Congratulations!!!!
Spend your senior trip with the friends you made just like the class of 1916!
Bibliography
Bean, Theodore Weber. History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Volume 2. (Philadelphia: Everts & Peck, 1884): 1172.
"Google Maps Area Calculator Tool." DaftLogic. Accessed January 27, 2022. https://www.daftlogic.com/projects-google-maps-area-calculator-tool.htm
"High School Dedicated." Ambler Gazette. November 28, 1895. Page 1. http://digitalcollections.powerlibrary.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/wivp-gazett/id/11329/rec/1.
Franklin Survey Company. Montgomery County 1935 Vol B, Plate 7, 1935.
Morris, William E, and Smith & Wistar. Map of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania: from original surveys. [Philadelphia: Smith & Wistar, 1849] Map. https://www.loc.gov/item/2012590207/.
"The 1895 Public School." Wissahickon Valley Historical Society. Accessed January 28, 2022. https://www.wvalleyhs.org/the-1895-public-school/.
"Wissahickon Valley Public Library's Ambler Gazette Collection." POWER Library: Pennsylvania's Electronic Library. Accessed December 30, 2021. http://digitalcollections.powerlibrary.org/cdm/landingpage/collection/wivp-gazett.