Years later, while some of these shuttered schools have found other uses, many still sit abandoned. 1979. Pinterest. In 1972, John Harris absorbed William Penn students, the building morphing into a technical school before closing entirely. Local nonprofit Capital Rebirth put in a $2.5 million bid in March and garnered over 7,500 signatures from the community on a petition of support for the plan theyre calling The Rebirth Project. The group wants to create a community center, including space for education, entertainment and wellness, explained founder Mikell Simpson. This will be difficult in the short term, barring some financial windfall. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. We read them every time we were in that space, and I think they had deep meaning to all serious students, recalled John Robinson, a member of the class of 1964 at William Penn High School. That autumn in Anjou he begins studies for a year at the Huguenot Academy. NEW CASTLE, DE - Police are investigating an unknown incident that occurred at the William Penn High School in New Castle today. So, the district decided on two separate schoolsJohn Harris and William Penn. If you walk these hallways, they are longer than you can even see. Back then, high school lasted three years instead of four. The 250,000 square foot building is the subject of constant vandalism and break-ins by thrill seekers. Mediterranean restaurant opening in Cumberland Co. Central Dauphin High School adding therapy dog, Pa. woman charged with endangering welfare of children, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. As we walked through the once lively halls, we even came across several reports of students who had earned bad grades in the early 2000s and some were even related to juvenile detention. Delaware State Police have charged a 16-year-old boy from Wilmington in relation to the gunshot that was fired inside William Penn High School last week. Although a predominately white school for most of its operation, WPHS later became exponentially diverse by the 1950s and 60s, and especially by the end of its run as a comprehensive public high school. (Monday-Friday) People were ready to send their kids to school in the city, but the city wasnt ready for them, he said. For more information on The Rebirth Project, visit their Facebook page. Delaware State Police said Wednesday that William Penn High School's school resources officer was alerted Tuesday right before 11:45 a.m. about a possible gunshot fired inside a second-floor bathroom. You board that window, another one is broken into, Turman said. Even if the district retains the land, the fate of the building presents a problem. Class of 1971. There were so many students at one time, the auditorium had to be used one grade or one SLC at a time according to the material being addressed. The classrooms are large enough for small businesses or fitness classes like yoga or Zumba. This does not mean that a brighter future for William Penn High School is out of reach. The William Penn school building, located on the north side of Division Street, just east of Italian Lake, has been abandoned for over a decade. A list of every class that was given to students at its peak in 2004 will be available shortly, including the distinguished classes such as elementary functions. William Penn Elementary School William Penn Elementary School. July 1662. Use the Find Your School tool. While the state average was 75%, CTAs students reading and math proficiency consistently remained at 15 to 20% in the last decade or so of its operation. 61-50 (L) William Penn vs. Appoquinimink. Closed. My grandparents actually went there, I think they really enjoyed the school from what they said but they are definitely sad that it ended up like this. That offer and others were ultimately put on hold by the district late last year, Celmer said, citing concerns about the financial feasibility of some renovation proposals and the ultimate question of whether the district should be selling its last remaining large chunk of open land. January 10, 2023. 2 /10. If you have any questions, concerns, or thoughts about William Penn High School, please feel free to contact us. Nestled in the suburbs of Harrisburg, Pennsylvanias state capital and a bustling metropolis located an hour north of Millersville, this once modern and popular school is now on the verge of collapse. It has to come with the ability to finance.. [ February 14, 2023 ] Germantown: Formerly Incarcerated Women Work Toward a More Peaceful City. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. The property has been advertised for sale under prior administrations, and the district has received proposals, including a well-publicized offer from the nonprofit Capital Rebirth to buy the property for $3.5 million, with plans to turn it into a trade school and community resource center. The district proposed rezoning Penn zone residents who were also in the Clymer School zone to Simon Gratz High School, and it proposed rezoning Penn zoned residents . IF YOU WALK THE HALLS, THEY ARE LONG. Do a quick Google search of the old school, and youll find videos posted by thrill seekers, trespassers on the hunt for ghosts or just curious residents. william penn abandoned high school 15.7M views Discover short videos related to william penn abandoned high school on TikTok. of 3. Another victim of the 2013 mass school closing, Boks students were forced to relocate to South Philadelphia High School, located a couple of blocks southwest. It has 2,297 students in grades 9-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 17 to 1. Despite being abandoned on-and-off for close to half a century, the campus of William Penn High School remains salvageable. February 28, 2023 | by M. Diane McCormick, Sign up for notifications of the monthly release, breaking news and exclusive Harrisburg offers, Sign up for notifications of the monthly release, breaking news and exclusive Harrisburg offers 2ba. In late 2019, school district receiver Dr. Janet Samuels renewed a contract with a commercial real estate firm to keep the sale price at $2.5 million. While the district is currently planning to renovate and re-open Steele Elementary School using federal stimulus funds, the district needs more elementary school space on the other hand, there is no demand for more high school space, leading to question of what the district would use a renovated William Penn building for, even if it could afford it. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). 10th -11th graders can register for self-paced, online course to prepare for SAT/PSAT by 3/1. Close. The closing was approved. It was one of several Harrisburg school facilities to shutter in the wake of the global financial meltdown that dealt a particular blow to Harrisburgs already-struggling schools. [8] In February 2015 the Philadelphia City Planning Commission approved the demolition of the school. William Penn High School Shooting - NBC10 Philadelphia. WBL activities develop and strengthen both technical skills and employability skills in preparation for post-secondary education and employment as a young adult. At the beginning of the year, the redevelopment group, The Bridge, started renting the old Bishop McDevitt school with plans to build an eco-friendly community center. William Penn High School, where someone fired a gun inside a boys' bathroom on the second floor on Tuesday (Jan. 10, 2023). "It was really a beautiful school." Jackson's class had a little over 300 students, while the full school had about 1,200. Ove We're huge fans of street art and wall murals that we spot while traveling around. [10] Temple planned to install an athletic center on the east side. Sorry if this is a stupid question, There was a decline in enrollment and they couldnt afford to stay open. I think it would be interesting to see if there are still students around that attended that school and see what their experience was like there. 9-12; Public; 113 Students; Wilkinsburg Borough School District. Jackson graduated from the class of 1948. Education is one of the foundations of society, and yet schools in Philadelphia are hemorrhaging cash due to rising costs and stagnant revenues. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. In 2009 Penn had 633 students. I think we all recognize that the building was not properly handled years ago when it was vacated, and thats led to the situation were currently in, but were now in a situation where we have to address the issue. Board member Ellis Roy graduated from William Penn in 1971, and that school was having problems then not being properly maintained, he said Tuesday. While suggestions for WPHS future use, such as those by Collins, can certainly be helpful, they only remain a dream unless people act upon them. $140,000. Energy: Can Green Solutions Reduce Energy Burdens? . There was a three-story rock wall in the gym where basketball games were held. Included in the building would be an indoor stadium, classrooms, an enclosed track and offices. By the 21st century, this school had steadily declined in quality. Named after William Penn , English Quaker and founder of Pennsylvania. Penn Wood High School: Apply: Special Education Teacher (Learning Support) 02/01/2023: Certified: Penn Wood Middle School: Apply: Health and Physical Education Teacher: 01/27/2023: Established in 2008. William Penn Senior High School Dedicated to excellence in education Upcoming Events. An active member of the schools choir and theatre programs during his time at the school, Robinson reminisced his days as a bright, young soul, eager to find something bigger than himself on the stage and in the classroom. And to secure a building like this so that it doesn't have vandalism and things like that, it's just nearly impossible," said Chief Brian Enterline. The sellers were asking for just $100,000. Penn had a professional television studio and editing software, along with top notch computer labs and a dark room for photography. All rights reserved. A spokesperson for Concordia Group could not be reached for comment. Faculty and students were able to park their cars in the garage located under the school for safe off street parking. 1 min read. Thousands of young men and women from all walks of life built their futures there, learning the skills they needed and making memories that would be cherished for a lifetime. Historical markers can be found in all 50 states and contain important information about our country's history. "It is a large campus. Read the Abandoned America book series: Buy it on Amazon or get signed copies here. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. At the time of this incident, the student was not attending classes in person. The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. Sixty-four years later, however, things are different. In 1926 the York High name was removed from the school building on the northeast corner of West College Avenue and South Beaver Street. Navigate 1 page forward. Germantown High has been bought by Concordia Group, a real estate investment firm out of Bethesda, Maryland, that may potentially make the school into housing or retail-centers. Text and Images by Matt McGraw and Matthew Leister, Tacony: Lorenzos Caf Espresso Aims to Bring Neighborhood Together, Arts and Entertainment: Jennifer Logue Brings Light to the Local Music Scene, https://vimeo.com/43392422] The Queen Village Neighbors Association has big plans for Weccacoe Playground. Apply online for K-12 Jobs in William Penn School District. William Penns zenith was described in a 2020 profile in TheBurg as being in the 1950s, before suburbanization began to take a toll on enrollment. Representatives of the Harrisburg School District, who still own the property, declined to comment, beyond stating there are currently no active plans for the property.. He resumes his travels in the company of Robert Spencer. By the 20s, the educational infrastructure of Harrisburg was pretty obsolete, Morrison said. The Delaware State Police said they are currently conducting a criminal investigation at William Penn High School located at 713 E. Basin Road. Navigate 1 page back. HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) - William Penn High School in Harrisburg's uptown closed its doors for good in 2010. In the dark corner of an office, across from the cafeteria, mailboxes with letters still inside remain in cubbyholes, each marked with a label of a teachers name. For most William Penn graduates, its been a long time since they danced at a sock hop or scored a goal in intramural sports. It just became a dumping ground when they had extra materials.. The Harrisburg-Steelton-Highspire Vo-Tech (later renamed Harrisburg Career & Technology Academy (CTA)), a part time collaborative effort between William Penn and another school district, began in 1967, and took possession of the former Bill Penn building after it closed following the 1970-71 academic year. The group went there excited to relive old memories, but left feeling like the building they toured was nothing like their beloved alma mater. Opened. 2 min read. Complete the course by 6/1 for a full credit towards graduation! A fire that was set intentionally at the old William Penn High School in Harrisburg is under investigation.Witnesses reported seeing young people running from the abandoned building around the time of Tuesday afternoon's fire.The fire chief said the department has responded to fires at the building in the past. Copyright 2009 - 2018 All Rights Reserved, Casual Dining at The Promenade Family Restaurant on Derry Street, 2nd Ward Fire Station Historical Marker in North Wildwood, Delicious Chocolate Confections and Taffy at Laura's Fudge, Ocean Wall Mural at the Dauphin Swimming Pool, Margie D's Old-Fashion Soda Fountain at Dellas 5 & 10 in Cape May. The classrooms, once full of students, are full of old rubble and garbage, and the halls display crude graffiti. By the end of the 1960s, however, enrollment in the school district had steadily declined, as did resources and student achievement, justifying the need to consolidate the schools open at the time. The fire chief said the department has responded to fires at the building in the past. When we came out to get on our bus, we were saying how it was so sad, Sobczak said. S1 E11: Is Keepling Locations Secret Important? Petitioning to the school district and local government can make a great start, as well as addressing these issues at town halls and related historical and restorative organizations. William Penn High School (WPHS), alongside its sister school John Harris High, were constructed in 1926 to relieve overcrowding in the rapidly growing city of Harrisburg. The parking is ideal for an office building and so many other options, including housing.. But she wouldnt have labeled herself Miss School Spirit.. Del. A ping pong and tennis room and state of the art gym equipment was available to the students. Dec. 29, 2020: William Penn High School, Harrisburg PA. DAUPHIN COUNTY, PA. A grassroots effort continues to turn an abandoned high school into a center for education, health, and . OVERALL 2-10 0.17 Win % LEAGUE 0-4 8thBlue Hen Flight - A. According to state test scores, 21% of students are at least proficient in math and 34% in reading. But the 1950s represented the high mark for William Penn. Several board members queried what intermediate options the district might have. My stepmom went to school there and it only closed in 2010. This bowling alley has only been open since 2009 and employs [continue reading], These school closings reak of cultural insensitivity.Our biggest fight for the restoration of our community starts with our school system. Published January 10, 2023 at 10:02 PM EST. A decade ago residents referred to the playground, a public park on the 400 block of Catherine Street, as Broken Glass Park, but [continue reading], Drawing inspiration from the iconic A Great Day in Harlem photo by Art Kane in 1958 that signified unity among jazz musicians, to XXL magazines 1998 commemoration photo called TheGreatest Day in Hip Hop History [continue reading], Along South Broad Street, there is a six-lane bowling alley tucked away in the basement of a building that is owned by a nonprofit organization. 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