Universal Vare Charter School Explained

Edwin H. Vare Junior High School
Location:2100 S. 24th St.,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Coordinates:39.9258°N -75.1858°W
Built:1922–1924
Architect:Irwin T. Catharine
Architecture:Colonial Revival
Added:November 18, 1988
Refnum:88002331

The Universal Vare Charter School, formerly the Edwin H. Vare Junior High School, and Edwin H. Vare Middle School,[1] is a historic junior high school building located in the Wilson Park neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. It is currently a charter school run by Universal Family of Schools.

This building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

History and architectural features

This historic building was designed by Irwin T. Catharine and built between 1922 and 1924. It is a three-story, seventeen-bay, brick building that sits on a raised basement, Created in the Colonial Revival style, and built in the shape of a shallow "W," it features an entrance pavilion with arched openings, pilasters, and a brick parapet.[2]

The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

Due to asbestos issues, the Edwin Vare building is no longer used effective April 2023, and for the 2023-2024 school year, the school instead used the McDaniel Annex Building; this is not the same building as the Delaplaine McDaniel School.[3] As of 2024, Universal Vare will move to the former Communications Technology High School.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Edwin H. Vare Middle School Geographic Boundaries. https://web.archive.org/web/20120313090022/https://webapps.philasd.org/sp_files/boundary_maps/2120.pdf. School District of Philadelphia. 2012-03-13. 2023-12-31.
  2. Web site: National Historic Landmarks & National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania. CRGIS: Cultural Resources Geographic Information System. Searchable database. Note: This includes Web site: [{{NRHP-PA|H052462_01D.pdf}} Pennsylvania Historic Resource Survey Form: Edwin H. Vare Junior High School]. 2012-07-03. Jefferson M. Moak. PDF. May 1987.
  3. Web site: Graham. Kristen A.. Philly schools asbestos update: Universal Vare students can’t return this year; Mitchell students to come back in September. Philadelphia Inquirer. 2023-08-09. 2023-12-29.