Plans
1. Lower Merion Academy, First Floor
2. Lower Merion Academy, Second Floor
3. Lower Merion Academy, Third Floor Attic
4. Lower Merion Academy, Basement

5. Cynwyd Elementary School, First Floor
6. Cynwyd Elementary School, Second Floor
7. Cynwyd Elementary School, Lower Floor

8. Bala Cynwyd Junior High School, Main Floor
9. Bala Cynwyd Junior High School, Ground Floor
10. Bala Cynwyd Junior High School, Upper and Lower Floors

Illustrations

1. Lower Merion Academy, ca. 1850
Engraving from ca. 1850 showing the south and west facades of Lower Merion Academy. The image is found on the John Levering's map of Lower Merion Township dated 1851. Courtesy of Lower Merion Academy, Bala Cynwyd, PA.

2. Lower Merion Academy, 1886
Lower Merion Academy in 1886 with Union Sunday School building visible in the background. Israel Irwin, headmaster of the Academy and Superintendent of Union Sunday School is on horseback. His wife Margaret and their daughters Laura, Cora, and Della are to the right. Note the staircase, doors, and window sash. Courtesy of Lower Merion Academy, Bala Cynwyd, PA.

3. Lower Merion Academy, ca. 1900
Photograph of Lower Merion Academy about 1900 showing a new roof structure over the side door, stacks of barrels under the staircase, and two windows converted to 2/2 panes. Union Sunday School stands in the background. Courtesy of Lower Merion Academy, Bala Cynwyd, PA.

4. Lower Merion Academy, ca. 1925
South and east facades of Lower Merion Academy showing an added window bay on the east façade, all windows converted to 2/2 panes except the attic, the enclosed staircase and basement door used before the 1938 renovation. Scrapbook of Lower Merion Academy, Bala Cynwyd, PA.

5. Lower Merion Academy, ca. 1935
This photograph shows the north façade before the 1938 restoration and construction of Bala Cynwyd Junior High School. Note that there are only two dormers, access to the porch was from grade level, and the columns were single. Scrapbook of Lower Merion Academy, Bala Cynwyd, PA.

6. Cynwyd Elementary School, 101 West Levering Mill Road
Photo of Cynwyd Elementary School showing the south and west façades of 1914 (Savery, Scheetz & Savery) and the added, setback west façade of the 1920 addition (Savery & Scheetz).

7. Bala Cynwyd Junior High School, West Entrance, Manayunk Road, ca. 1939
Bala Cynwyd Junior High School (Davis & Dunlap) looking northeast across Manayunk Road at the semi-circular drive, the terraced entrance steps between the pair of stair towers, and the columned west entrance façade. A classroom wing built between the stair towers eliminated this entrance in 1963.

Photographs

All photographs taken by Jean K. Wolf. Photos 1-3 and 13 to 27 taken November 4 and 7, 2001. Photos 4-13 taken January 9, 1992. No changes other than furnishings and a coat of paint occurred between 1992 and 2001 on the interior of Lower Merion Academy. Negatives retained by Lower Merion Historical Society, Lower Merion Academy, Bala Cynwyd, PA.

1. Lower Merion Academy and Bala Cynwyd Junior High School's power plant and south façade seen from across the track and playing field. Camera pointing north.

2. East and north facades of Lower Merion Academy with Bala Cynwyd Junior High School to west. Camera pointing northwest.

3. South facade of Lower Merion Academy with 1938 stone staircases, terracing, and added flagstone terrace and basement room. Camera pointing north.

4. Central hall of Lower Merion Academy with original vertical board wainscoting, staircase, and northwest entrance door. Camera pointing south.

5. Central hall of Lower Merion Academy with staircase, closet door on left, and north entrance door. Camera pointing north.

6. Original horizontal beaded board wainscoting along staircase at second floor landing, east side, Lower Merion Academy. Camera pointing east.

7. Staircase at second-floor level showing handrail and balusters. Camera pointing northwest.

8. Detail of original staircase between first and second floors showing beaded stringer and wear between balusters. Camera pointing east.

9. Finished attic with original plaster. Southwest corner showing dormer with graffiti, sliding vent, south chimney, and portion of blocked north fireplace. Camera pointing southwest.

10. Second floor northwest room, showing original mantel surrounding the fireplace that was electrified during the 1938 alterations. Camera pointing west.

11. First floor classroom, east side, north end. Fireplace was added in the 1938 alteration using the mantel from the northwest room on the first floor, now a kitchen. Camera point northeast.

12. Second floor classroom, east side, south end. The added fireplace boasts the mantel moved from the southwest second floor room. Camera pointing southwest.

13. First floor classroom, east side, showing cabinets, bookcases, bench and enclosed I beam at ceiling level from 1938 restoration. Camera pointing southwest.

14. Cynwyd Elementary School, south façade showing 1914 contributing wing and separated non-contributing 1999 wing. Camera pointing northwest.

15. Cynwyd Elementary School, south façade showing glass connecting atrium and 1999 non-contributing wing. Camera pointing northwest.

16. Cynwyd School, 1914 contributing wing. Camera pointing northwest.

17. Cynwyd School, 1914 main south entrance. Camera pointing north.

18. Cynwyd School, 1920 contributing wing, west façade as seen from new 1999 glass atrium. Camera pointing north.

19. Cynwyd School, north façade showing 1999 wing (right) and 1920 contributing building (left). Camera pointing southeast.

20. Cynwyd School, interior of library added in 1999 in the 1920 gymnasium/auditorium. View shows original proscenium arch and skylight configuration of 1920. Camera pointing south.

21. Bala Cynwyd Junior High School, east entrance façade. Camera pointing west.

22. Bala Cynwyd Junior High School, west façade showing contributing 1938 southwest corner and stair tower and 1963 wing added between the stair towers. Camera pointing northeast.

23. Bala Cynwyd Junior High School, east entrance. Camera pointing west.

24. Bala Cynwyd Junior High School, entrance foyer. Camera pointing west.

25. Bala Cynwyd Junior High School, auditorium. Camera pointing north.

26. Bala Cynwyd Junior High School, hall of main floor showing ceramic verdigris tile. Camera pointing west.

27. Bala Cynwyd Junior High School library added in 1999 using the atrium created in 1963 when the west entrance steps were closed off. Columns and entablature of the school's original west entrance façade are recaptured in this space. Camera pointing northeast.