Downtown Harrisburg in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Technical High School & Old City Hall

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 4, 2024
1. Technical High School & Old City Hall Marker
Erected in 1910 and designed by noted Harrisburg architect Charles Howard Lloyd, this building served as the main boy's high school of the City of Harrisburg. Known as the Technical High School, the building replaced, on the same site, the Lancasterian School, later known as the DeWitt School, which was the oldest public school in Harrisburg having opened in 1830. "Old Tech" graduated many of Harrisburg's finest citizens who went on to form the "Tech Golden Legion" of devoted alumni. the building's use as a school ended in the mid 1920's when John Harris and William Penn High Schools were completed at the eastern and northern ends of the City respectively. "Old Tech" was subsequently sold to the City of Harrisburg for conversion to the first City Hall. Prior to that time, the City's offices were located in several buildings downtown and never under one roof. City Hall, with its marble-clad hallways and grand stairs, served city government until 1982 when the present City Government Center on Market Square was completed. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places and designed in the English Collegiate style, the building is preserved and continues to serve through its third generation use as the stylish Old City Hall apartments.
[Captions:]
Pre-1904 view of the old Dewitt School, with Aberdeen Street at right, which was replaced by the Technical High School.
1923 view of the Technical High School with former buildings in foreground recently cleaned for the expansion of the Capitol Complex.
Erected by The Harrisburg History Project Commissioned by Mayor Stephen R. Reed.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Education. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania, The Harrisburg History Project series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1910.
Location. 40° 15.805′ N, 76° 52.857′ W. Marker is in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in Dauphin County. It is in Downtown Harrisburg. It is at the intersection of Walnut Street and Commonwealth Ave., on the left when traveling east on Walnut Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 417 Walnut St, Harrisburg PA 17101, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in South-Central Pennsylvania, specifically in Pennsylvania Dutch Country, and in the Susquehanna Valley. It is also in the American Northeast and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Underground Railroad (a few steps from this marker); Leaders, Stewards and Advocates / Trailblazers (a few steps from this marker); Original Capitol Complex (a few steps from this marker); A Gathering At The Crossroads (within shouting distance of this marker); A Bench by the Road: Old Eighth Ward of Harrisburg (within shouting
distance of this marker); a different marker also named Underground Railroad (within shouting distance of this marker); Walnut Place (within shouting distance of this marker); Pennsylvania Canal (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Harrisburg.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 4, 2024
3. Technical High School & Old City Hall Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on August 5, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 27, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 2,054 times since then and 48 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 5, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 2. submitted on March 27, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. 3. submitted on August 5, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 4. submitted on March 27, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland.

