Narberth School Closed In 1978 – Borough Still Deciding What To Do With It
The Inquirer- March 28, 1978
Click above to enlarge
This story goes back to 1892, when the Lower Merion School District built the Narberth Elementary School. It was located at the northeast corner of Sabine and Essex Avenues. Then in1895, when Narberth became an independent borough, they bought the school from Lower Merion.
Narberth had its own full-fledged school system, with an elementary school, a junior high and a high school. The high school even fielded varsity football and basketball teams.
Then in the early 1930s, Narberth closed their junior and senior high schools and “farmed out” their kids to Lower Merion, on a tuition-paying basis.
The first Narberth Public School was a two-story, native-stone building on the northeastern corner of North Essex and Sabine Aves., Narberth. It was built c. 1892 by Lower Merion School District as an elementary school. It was sold to Narberth School District in 1895 when Narberth became a separate borough. The school included courses for high school from 1909-1923, as well as an elementary school. This building was remodeled in 1931. An adjacent two-story, stone building was built on the brow of the hill on Sabine Ave. in 1917. The two buildings were connected with a ground-level, enclosed walkway. In October 1934, the ceiling fell in a second grade classroom, injuring 15 students. Both buildings were demolished in 1961.
2. A second Narberth Elementary School was built of brick on the same site at 239 Sabine Ave. It was dedicated in 1963.
Lower Merion and Narberth merged their school systems completely in 1966. It was still called the Lower Merion School District, but the adminstrative and taxing authority became the Lower Merion Narberth School Board. It should be noted, that as early as 1955, the Lower Merion School Board had considered a proposal to merge with Narberth, and rejected it.
In recent years the building has become something of an albatross for the borough. According to Richard Ilgenfritz, writing in Delcotimes.com –
When the Lower Merion School district closed and vacated the building in 1978, it became Narberth’s property. However, the school district always had the option to take it back. Under the agreement, they could only reclaim the building for a school.
However, in 2018 after 40 years of uncertainty, the school district finally gave up all claims to the building…
Despite the maintenance costs, there was a significant desire for the borough to maintain ownership. Others said if the property were sold, there would be some type of deed restriction so that the borough would still have some control over the site.
If the borough decides to keep the building, a 2017 study of the property showed that it needed $4.5 million in necessary repairs.
Several months ago, Narberth Borough hired the consulting firm of Retail Strategies to help them consider options for the future of the property. At a recent Borough Council meeting, Kelsey Edelen, a staff member of the consulting firm, presented the findings of an extensive survey she conducted among residents of the borough, about their preferences with respect to the future of the former elementary school property.
Using some or all of the property for outdoor space for community gathering and recreation, was by far the single most common response among those who participated in the survey. The respondents also were eager to preserve the existing day care and non-profit uses that are currently operating at the property.