Girard College (Tour) - Clio

Entries on This Tour

1. Mechanical School

During the century between 1884 and the 1980s, the Mechanical School at Girard College was a site for older students to learn manual skills in mechanical arts such as wood-working, metal-working, carpentry, electrical work, and even auto mechanics. Before the Mechanical School existed, graduating students were placed as apprentices to master craftsmen during the mid-19th century. The changing economy and decline of apprenticeships throughout the 1800s eventually led Girard College to switch to on-campus technical and vocational training. The Mechanical School filled this need by providing basic instruction in the practical application of tools and mechanical processes. Girard College’s academic and mechanical education was known as the dual curriculum. By the 1980s, instruction in the Mechanical School declined and was replaced with college preparation during the next decade. Today, Girard College continues to prepare its students for college and subsequent careers.

2. Elementary and Middle School Complex

The current Elementary and Middle School complex was created in 2001 and contains the newest buildings on campus. Designed by Vitteta, the complex includes the Good Friends Elementary School and three residential buildings: Constitution Hall, Christine Manley Hall, and Navigator Hall. Although these buildings are only 20 years old, the idea of housing the youngest students at the far west of the campus is not new. An earlier “West End” complex for early elementary students previously stood on the same plot from 1929 to 1982.

The Cheesman Herrick Armory, named for a former school president, was designed by John T. Windrim and completed in 1924. The Armory was originally created for indoor recreational use, musical instruction, and to allow the school's battalion to drill inside during inclement weather. Although Girard College was never a military school, it incorporated military training through the Girard College battalion from 1869-1969. Today the Armory is used as the school’s gymnasium and also houses the alumni office.

4. Junior School/ The Hum

The Junior School, now also known as the Hum, was opened in 1931, replacing an earlier Primary School building on the site. The H-shaped building with a central core and two wings was designed by John T. Windrim to serve as an elementary school and dormitory. After the closure and removal of other instructional and residential buildings between 1960 and 1982, the Junior School served as the hub for all residential and academic life for the younger Girard students. In 2001, the elementary school classrooms and dormitories were moved to the new Elementary and Middle School complex and today the Junior School houses high school girls’ dormitories, the student health services, and recreational facilities.

5. Good Friends Building (1885-1960)

The Good Friends Building served as a dormitory hall for Girard College students and staff between 1886-1947. Originally known as Building #9, it was renamed in 1927 after the Good Friends ship owned by founder Stephen Girard. Good Friends was designed in a Gothic architectural style by Girard College alumnus and architect James H. Windrim. The dormitory housed a capacity of over 400 students, most of whom were younger middle school students. Good Friends, along with the neighboring Lafayette Hall, was demolished in 1960 and replaced with a soccer field that still exists today.

6. Lafayette Hall (1880-1960)

Lafayette Hall served as a dormitory hall for Girard College students and staff between 1882-1957. The dormitory was originally known as Building #8 and was later renamed in 1927 after American Revolutionary War hero Lafayette. The building was designed in the Collegiate Gothic architectural style by Girard College alumnus and architect James H. Windrim. Lafayette Hall housed an average capacity of 400 students, most of whom were older middle school youth. In its 80 years of service, Lafayette featured a grand dining hall that seated over 1000 students and, later on, held the Student Center. Lafayette Hall was partially closed in 1947 before being completely closed as a student dormitory in 1957 due to declining enrollment. Student activities continued to be held in Lafayette Hall until it was demolished along with the neighboring Good Friends Building in 1960. A soccer field was built on the site, which continues to exist today.

7. Infirmary (1859-1973)

For more than a century, health services on Girard College’s campus were housed in the Infirmary building. Originally known as Building #6, the Infirmary opened in 1859 as one of the earliest buildings added on campus and was repeatedly expanded over its lifetime. Infirmary staff regularly provided treatment, nursing care, and physical examinations to students of the boarding school. The Infirmary was particularly essential in managing the health of the student body during numerous epidemics that occurred on campus in the 19th and early 20th centuries. At the height of its operations in the early 20th century, the Infirmary provided complete medical and dental facilities, along with limited surgical services. The Infirmary building was demolished in March, 1973, and student health services are now located in the Junior School Building.

8. Middle School Building (1889-1975)

Opened in 1890, the Middle School Building housed classrooms and student facilities for the middle school grades. It was originally called Building #10 and was later renamed in 1927 as the Middle School Building. Designed by Girard College alumnus and architect James H. Windrim, the building was known by students as the “castle” due to its notable medieval-like turrets. Initially half funded with money left to Girard College by Illinois farmer Lawrence Todd, it was the only early campus building to have been funded by outside donations, although the approximately $77,000 was later repaid to the Todd fund. The Middle School Building was demolished in 1975.

Girard College has always been a non-denominational school, but as Stephen Girard’s will called for students to be educated in “the purest principles of morality,” chapel services have been a central part of the school’s program since its opening in 1848. The current majestic chapel building replaced an earlier 1878 gothic chapel on the same site. It was designed by Thomas and Martin and was built from 1931-1933 of Indiana limestone. The building features ornate metalwork, including a large number of elaborate doors to facilitate moving students into and out of the building, and also houses a massive 6,829-pipe Skinner organ (Opus 872) installed above the assembly space. Today, chapel services are held twice monthly and are no longer religious, but function as all-school assemblies; the building is also used for concerts, graduations, and other important school events as well as for public events.

10. High School

The High School was designed by John T. Windrim, son of alumnus and architect James H. Windrim, and completed in 1916. Among other features, the High School was designed to include a large auditorium and a basement swimming pool. Today the High School occupies the upper two floors, with school administration on the first floor.

11. Banker Hall (1850-1970)

Banker Hall was the first major building to be added to campus grounds after Girard College opened in 1848. The building was originally known as Building #5 and was later renamed in 1927 after one of the professions of the school’s founder. It initially served solely as a service building that held the campus water system, laundry, bakery, and classrooms, but beginning in 1856, it was remodelled into a dormitory for students between ages 14-17. An 1878 enlargement project renovated the interior and exterior of Banker Hall, along with expanding the dormitory accommodations. In 1952 Banker Hall became the site of the largest fire to ever occur on campus grounds, which resulted in significant property damage but no casualties. Banker Hall was demolished in 1970 and the Dining and Service Building was renamed as the new Banker Hall three years later. In 1977, the grounds of the former Banker Hall were transformed into a campus green space, which continues to exist today.

12. Banker Hall

Originally known as the Dining & Service Building (D&S), this building was opened in 1927 to provide small dining rooms for students, replacing the large group dining halls then in use. In 1973, it was renamed for one of Stephen Girard’s professions after a previous Banker Hall was demolished. Today, it still houses the high school kitchen and dining rooms, which were most recently upgraded in 2019.

13. Civil War Monument

When the United States broke out into civil war in 1861, Girard College had only been open for a little over a decade and had a relatively small number of alumni. Nonetheless, some alumni and even students followed their patriotic calling to fight in the war. In 1869, four years after the war ended, Girard College installed its first war memorial on campus to honor the alumni who fought in the Civil War. The Soldiers’ Monument was unveiled in 1869 with plaques mounted on the base for the names of former students who had died in service of the Union. When the memorial began to deteriorate in the 1910s, the school replaced the Soldiers’ Monument with a new Soldiers and Sailors’ Monument in 1914. This monument still stands today to the west of Founder’s Hall.

14. Founder's Hall at Girard College

Founder’s Hall at Girard College is considered by many to be the greatest example of Greek revival architecture in the United States. This imposing structure was built over the course of fourteen years (1833-1847) after banking magnate, Stephen Girard, who died in 1831, stipulated its creation in his will. The building was designed by American architect Thomas Ustick Walter, to Girard’s exacting specifications. At the time of its completion, Founders Hall was the second most expensive building in the country, behind only the U.S. Capitol Building. The campus building initially served as the college’s main classroom building. Today, Founder's Hall is home to a museum and archive as well as event space. The building was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1969.

15. World Wars Monument

When the United States entered “The War to End All Wars” in 1917, many former students of Girard College enlisted in military service to join the fight abroad. To commemorate these soldiers who fought in World War I, Girard College commissioned sculptor R. Tait Mckenzie to create a war monument in 1929. The “Alma Mater and the Student” monument, which was originally designed to honor the alumni soldiers of the first World War, was gradually re-purposed into a World Wars monument to honor alumni soldiers who fought in later wars throughout the 20th century, including World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

16. Allen/Bordeaux/Mariner/Merchant Halls

Originally known as Buildings 1-4 (names were added in 1927), these were the original four “outbuildings” required by Stephen Girard’s will. They were designed by Thomas U. Walter as part of the original school construction completed in 1847. Bordeaux, Mariner, and Merchant Halls were used as student dormitories from the outset, while Allen Hall was used as a residence for the president and teachers. Allen Hall became a student dormitory in 1933 when new administration residences at the east end of campus were constructed. Today Mariner and Merchant are still used as high school boys’ dorms.

This purpose-built library was constructed 1931-1933 to replace earlier library space on the first floor of Founder’s Hall. It now contains the Admissions Office and Welcome Center on the ground floor and the TEC center on the second floor. The building’s Ionic columns were chosen to complement the Corinthian columns of Founder’s Hall and the Doric columns of the High School.

This Tour is a Virtual Museum or Site Tour.

Girard College

Created by Girard College on May 28th 2020, 6:33:25 pm.

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Description

Girard College is a 1st-12th grade independent school in Philadelphia that has provided free education and boarding for financially disadvantaged students since it first opened in 1848. Despite the name “College,” Girard has always been a residential school for students between the ages of six and eighteen. The boarding school was created and financed through the will of Stephen Girard, one of the first millionaires in US history, who originally endowed the school for “poor white male orphans.” Owing to the rigorous efforts of civil rights activists to desegregate the school, Girard admitted its first non-white students in 1968; the school became coeducational in 1984. Today, Girard students represent various cultural backgrounds, but all come from families with demonstrated financial need and with one or no birth parents living at home. For much of its history, the school taught a dual curriculum of academic subjects and vocational skill training; today it is fully college-preparatory. Girard College is a significant site in local history and a place of opportunity, student life, and achievement for many generations of students. Please note that Girard College is an active residential school, and campus is only open to the public for advertised events. Founder’s Hall Museum is open to the public for walk-in visitation on Thursdays, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted, with additional times available by appointment. Visitors are required to check in with the Security Office and present photo ID upon arrival.

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