Old Edison High School at the corner of 8th & Lehigh has been sitting vacant for over a decade. Its castle-like exterior complete with gargoyles is still a focal point for the neighborhood, but its days are numbered as it stands as a crumbling shell of its former self, which was built 108 years ago.
According to Hidden City, the gutted school has been abandoned since 2002 and is one of the top targets for urban explorers, right up there on the list next to the Divine Lorraine Hotel on North Broad.
A massive fire in the summer of 2011 all but sealed the building's fate as a demolition certainty despite its placement on the National Register of Historic Places. As workers prepare to bring the building down, residents prepare for the construction of a new commercial complex set to open in its place in 2014, anchored by a Save-A-Lot, Burger King, and Family Dollar.
It's amazing to see the decay that exists right in front of us in our own cities. Philadelphia is home to a wide range of abandoned structures, from hospitals and churches to factories and educational facilities. Photographer Matthew Christopher has done a hell of a job documenting abandoned structures all across the country, and his three galleries of Edison High are a must-see before this school meets the wrecking ball.
· Final Curtain for the Former Edison High [Hidden City]
· Fire at Old Edison High School Under Investigation [6abc]
· Northeast High School [Abandoned America]