| The second and final architectural design of the new Central High School. The view is of the North Walk and front entrance-the school sits majestically on the bluff overlooking the southwest corner of Ogontz & Olney Avenues. Note the low stone wall edging the sidewalk and entrance to the walk- which was replaced by bushes. Dr. John Louis Haney, the then-President of CHS was instrumental in relocating the school to this area where a majority of its student body had migrated rather than the previous Broad & Green Streets site. One could conjecture that he was instrumental as well in the rejection of the first artist renderings and the original site as well. This setting would engender the desired image of a modern institution with a select student body and a philosophy which encouraged academic excellence. "Central High School alumni aided significantly in the recovery of CHS in the 1930's. More than 50,000 boys had enrolled at the school during its first hundred years, and many of these alumni eventually assumed positions of influence throughout the city. As a group they were eager to see the high school restored to the special position it occupied in their youth, and they had the power to help bring this restoration about". (Labaree, 91) October 11, 1937(Photo courtesy of www.phillyhistory.org) |
