Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-09-02
BOYS NORTHEAST HIGH
TO DOUBLE CAPACITY
BY 100000 ADDITION
Long Desired Gymnasium Will
Be a Part of New Structure
to Adjoin Present Con-
gested Building
COOK FINISHES PLANS

Plans were completed today by J. Hor-
ace Cook, superintendent OF school build
ings, for the erection of an addition to the
Northeast High School for Boys to double
the capacity of the present building at
Eighth street and Lehigh avenue.
A large granite structure to cost ap-
proximately 100000 will be erected on
land now owned by the Board Of Education,
adjacent to the school The building as II
now stands is overcrowded and alumni of
the institution have for several years been
agitating the construction of an annex
Mr.. Cook said today that the Improvement
will positively be effected and that speclfi-
cations are ready TO be placed In the hands
of n contractor.
The Property Committee Of the Board Of
Education will meet next Thursday to re-
celve bids from builders and keen competi-
ton for the contract Is expected. The
new building will be architecturally similar
TO the present structure. II will be a
three.story building, containing gymna-
sium chemical and physical laboratories,
lecture halls and classrooms.
The Northeast High School is now the
only institution of It's kind In the city hav-
ing no gymnasium, and the boys are obliged
to take their exercise on the pavements of
the schoolhouse. Eight hundred pupils will
be accommodated In the annex and the
overcrowdng will be relieved.
The erection of the addition will also
make possible the abandonment Of two an
nexes, which are regarded as out-of-date
and unfit for educational purposes. They
are at Fourth street and Lehgh avenue
and Howard and Girard avenue. These
buildings were erected many years ago to
house elementary classes, but were dis
carded for that purpose because of their
antiquated condition. When the number
Of pupils applying for admission became
too great for the facilities of the building
lei these
abandoned buildings were again brought
into use as high school buildings.
simultaneously with the completion of
plans for the addition came the announce
ment that the Kensington High School for
Girls at Coral and Cumberland streets, now
in course of erection, is nearing completion.
The cornerstone will be laid on September
Q. Elaborate ceremonies are being planned
in connection with the event. dresses
will be made by members of the Board of
Education and other men prominent In pub
lie life.
The new girls school will be a model of
educational completeness The building will
be equipped for instruction in studies rang
ing in character from sewing to sociology.
A domestic science laboratory In which hun
dreds of girls will be taught the art OF
cooking will be a part of the school plant.
When finished the school will accommodate
1900 girls and will have cost the city $780,
524, exclusive of the price paid for the site.
A contract will be awarded by the Prop
erty Committee on Thursday for the In
stallation of heating apparatus in the ele-
mentary school that Is being erected at
Flfty-flfth and Chestnut streets. A con-
tract for this purpose was granted about
six months ago, but the contractor found
that he could not complete the job except
at a loss to himself. He was consequently
relieved from his obligations with the under
standing that he would never again bid on
school contract.