Bok High School
Why Bok?
1901 S. 9th St, Philadelphia, PA, 19148
Constructed by the Public Works Administration after the Great Depression, this building was named for the Dutch-American author Edward W. Bok. As a technical high school, it had the facilities for students to learn auto shop work, nursing, welding, and many other specialized trades. In 1986, it was added to the National Registry of Historic Places. By 2013, however, the school closed, and in 2016, was acquired by a design company known for re-purposing spaces in creative ways.
We selected this high school for our podcast because of the way the space is being used now, as well as its involvement in the 1967 walkouts that the Masterman students are working to memorialize. It was an important part of the South Philadelphia community, and important part in shaping the current Philadelphia School District.
Learn More:
In this audio tour, you will have the chance to learn more about the history of the Bok building as you walk through the space. Marissa and Rachel invite you to consider the space, its accessibility, and the way the space has changed. Can repurposing the building itself serve as a memorial?