Eastern Female High School facts for kids
|
Eastern Female High School
|
|
Empty building in March 2012
|
|
 Location in Baltimore
Location in Maryland
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 249 Aisquith Street, at Orleans Street, Baltimore, Maryland |
|---|---|
| Area | 1.4 acres (0.57 ha) |
| Built | 1869 |
| Architect | Andrews, Col. R. Snowden |
| Architectural style | Italian Villa |
| NRHP reference No. | 71001035 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | September 10, 1971 |
Eastern Female High School, also known as Public School No. 116, is a very old and important building in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. It was built in 1869-1870. This school was special because it was one of the first high schools in the United States just for girls.
Contents
Eastern Female High School: A Historic Building
The building is located in the old Jonestown / Old Town neighborhoods of Baltimore. It was designed in the Italian Villa style, which was popular in the late 1800s. The school officially opened in early 1870 with a big ceremony.
The Building's Design
The old Eastern High building has two stories and is made of brick. It has a square shape and three towers on its corners. You can see fancy decorations called "cornices" and a decorated porch over the main entrance on the west side.
The school was designed by a Baltimore architect named Richard Snowden Andrews. He was known for his work in the city.
A School on the Move
Eastern Female High School was started in 1844. It was one of the first high schools in the country to offer secondary education only for women. Its twin school, Western High School, also opened around the same time.
In 1907, the school moved to a bigger and better building further northeast in the city. It stayed there for about 30 years. Then, in 1938, it moved again to East 33rd Street. The school continued to operate there until it closed in the late 1980s.
What Happened to the Original Building?
After the high school moved out, the original building on Aisquith and Orleans Streets was used as an elementary school until the early 1970s. Later in the 1970s, the building was changed into apartments.
In 2003, the city gave the building to Sojourner–Douglass College. The college paid $150,000 for it. Sojourner-Douglass College used several old school buildings in Baltimore. However, the college stopped operating in 2015.
In 2016, the City of Baltimore put the building up for sale. It was sold in 2017. There were plans to turn it into an entertainment and arts center, but as of 2019, the building was still empty.
Eastern Female High School was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. This means it is recognized as an important historical site.
