Built in 1773, the Union School was one of the earliest public schools in Pennsylvania, and the first that did not discriminate based on social position or religious preference. The building is sometimes referred to as the "cradle of free education."
As part of his will, local Quaker businessman Samuel Morris stipulated that a sum of money from his estate be set for the building of a school and a teacher's salary. The school was to provide free education for all within a one-and-a-half-mile radius of Hope Lodge, his country mansion. After Morris died in 1770, his brother Joshua had the school built.
The original section was built in 1773 and is a two-and-one-half-story building that measures twenty-three feet wide by forty-eight feet long. The school and attached schoolmaster's house were built using fieldstone portions that were covered in painted stucco.[2]
In 1792, the Union School was incorporated as the Union School in Whitemarsh. The school was in continuous use from 1773 until 1936, except for a brief period in 1873 when it served as a lyceum. The trust fund established by Samuel Morris remains in existence today, supporting education in the townships of Whitpain, Whitemarsh and Upper Dublin in Pennsylvania.[3]
Today, the Union School building is a privately owned residence. The museum of the Fort Washington Historical Society in the Clifton House contains a replica of the school room.
^. CRGIS: Cultural Resources Geographic Information System. Archived from the original (Searchable database) on 2007-07-21. Retrieved 2012-04-21. Note: This includes Charlene M. Tomlinson (n.d.). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Union School" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-04-21.
^"National Register Of Historic Places Inventory -- Nomination Form" (PDF). June 1977. Retrieved October 2, 2006. [dead link]
union, school, fort, washington, pennsylvania, union, school, historic, american, building, that, located, bethlehem, pike, fort, washington, section, whitemarsh, township, pennsylvania, union, schoolu, national, register, historic, placesunion, school, octobe. The Union School is an historic American building that is located at 516 518 Bethlehem Pike in the Fort Washington section of Whitemarsh Township Pennsylvania Union SchoolU S National Register of Historic PlacesUnion School October 2011Show map of PennsylvaniaShow map of the United StatesLocation516 518 Bethlehem Pike Fort Washington PennsylvaniaCoordinates40 7 43 N 75 13 6 W 40 12861 N 75 21833 W 40 12861 75 21833Area0 8 acres 0 32 ha Built1773NRHP reference No 80003576 1 Added to NRHPAugust 11 1980 The Union School has been listed on the U S National Register of Historic Places since 1980 1 History and architectural features editBuilt in 1773 the Union School was one of the earliest public schools in Pennsylvania and the first that did not discriminate based on social position or religious preference The building is sometimes referred to as the cradle of free education As part of his will local Quaker businessman Samuel Morris stipulated that a sum of money from his estate be set for the building of a school and a teacher s salary The school was to provide free education for all within a one and a half mile radius of Hope Lodge his country mansion After Morris died in 1770 his brother Joshua had the school built The original section was built in 1773 and is a two and one half story building that measures twenty three feet wide by forty eight feet long The school and attached schoolmaster s house were built using fieldstone portions that were covered in painted stucco 2 In 1792 the Union School was incorporated as the Union School in Whitemarsh The school was in continuous use from 1773 until 1936 except for a brief period in 1873 when it served as a lyceum The trust fund established by Samuel Morris remains in existence today supporting education in the townships of Whitpain Whitemarsh and Upper Dublin in Pennsylvania 3 The Union School has been listed on the U S National Register of Historic Places since 1980 1 Today the Union School building is a privately owned residence The museum of the Fort Washington Historical Society in the Clifton House contains a replica of the school room References edit a b c National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service July 9 2010 National Historic Landmarks amp National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania CRGIS Cultural Resources Geographic Information System Archived from the original Searchable database on 2007 07 21 Retrieved 2012 04 21 Note This includes Charlene M Tomlinson n d National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form Union School PDF Retrieved 2012 04 21 National Register Of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form PDF June 1977 Retrieved October 2 2006 dead link See also editClifton House Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Union School Fort Washington Pennsylvania amp oldid 1176674259, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
