Central High School, Broad and Green Streets
March 7, 2012 | by Peter Woodall
About the Author
Peter Woodall Peter Woodall is the Project Director of Hidden City Philadelphia. He is a graduate of the UC Berkeley School of Journalism, and a former newspaper reporter with the Biloxi Sun Herald and the Sacramento Bee. He worked as a producer for Radio Times with Marty Moss-Coane and wrote a column about neighborhood bars for PhiladelphiaWeekly.com.
Any date associated with this postcard?
Hard to say without looking at the back, but I’d guess around 1910.
Any idea which corner of Broad and Green?
Hi Eric. It was at 550 North Broad Street. It was torn down in 1961. Benjamin Franklin High School stands in its place.
According to google maps, 550 Broad is the SE corner of Broad & Green while Ben Franklin HS is on the NW corner. Is this correct?
Hey Joe,
The second location of Central was at southeast corner of Broad and Green Streets. I believe this postcard depicts the third location of Central which was at Broad, Green, 15th, and Brandywine Streets.
550 N. Broad Street is the address of Ben Franklin High School: https://www.philasd.org/bfhs/
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This pic is from 1904.
Does anyone know what year this building was supposedly built ?
Torn down in 1961 I think someone posted…
My metal shop classes at Ben Franklin High were in an annex building across Broad Street from the main building pictured at sw cor Broad & Green, where had my academic classes. 550 North Broad sounds about right for the main building. Even numbers are on west side of Broad Street. Both were between Brandywine & Green.
Also attended Standard Evening High School classes in that building, as did many other military veterans going there on the GI Bill.