Sic transit gloria mundi
Atque historia mortis et resurrectionis: the rectory at ex-Transfiguration of Our Lord Church, Cedar Avenue between 55th and 56th streets, comes down and the school is reborn as the Boys’ Latin of Philadelphia Charter School. The parish was obviously the anchor of this rowhouse neighbourhood in the 1950s when it was Irish. I know someone who was baptised and grew up here. It’s sad to see this sturdy basilica-style building idle (but better I suppose than it going to Protestants) and the school without the cross on top or a statue in the empty niche but the latter’s being put to good use, teaching bright and motivated boys to discipline their minds in a time-tested way. The uniforms even look like the old school’s probably did.

More here, here and here.



The old days: