Standing stoically in the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Larimer, the abandoned formerly Larimer School lays claim to a storied past, a tragic period of abandonment, and the possibility of a pretty amazing future. The Larimer School was abandoned for 40 years and the former elementary school has earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places because of its storied past. Since then the property has been revitalized into additional mixed-income housing for the neighborhood.

St. Louis-based company McCormack Baron Salazar had been working on an extensive housing development in the neighborhood of the Larimer School and their final stage of development included rehabilitating the historic property.

Google Maps But before the property was turned into part of this new development, it had a fascinating history, and then decades of abandonment.

Designed by Ulysses J. Lincoln Peoples, a well-known architect in Pittsburgh, Larimer School’s construction costs tallied $80,000 in 1896 due, in part, to the marble wainscoting and the terrazzo floors.

Wikimedia Commons/Leepaxton It was the cream of the crop at its time, illustrating all kinds of innovation and architectural prestige.

The Romanesque-style building earned its name from William Larimer, Jr., the founder of Denver City in Colorado and the entrepreneur behind Pittsburgh’s first Conestoga Wagon business.

Flickr/Todd Shirley The main building, however, proved insufficient and several wings were added during Larimer School’s history.

Peoples designed the addition of 13 classrooms in 1904, which came with a $100,000 price tag.

Flickr / Brook Ward There was some debate about the addition of an elaborate 125-foot high campanile (Italian-style bell tower) with the school bell in it. For all the investment that went into the building, it’s tragic that it didn’t have a longer legacy.

Architect George Rowland designed the final touches to Larimer School – the auditorium (check out the video at the end of the article for a glimpse at the auditorium today) and the gym.

Flickr / Brook Ward These areas featured a streamlined Art Deco style including an aluminum ceiling decorated in a geometric pattern and black wainscoting.

Declining enrollment led to the permanent closing of Larimer School in 1980.

Flickr / Brook Ward Shortly thereafter the beautiful stained glass windows were removed from the building and sold, a tragic affront to the architectural wonders of the building. Six years later, the hauntingly beautiful building earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places.

Since then, ownership of the building has exchanged hands several times. The current developer of the abandoned school, KBK Enterprises with Fishers of Men, bought the building with plans to convert the building into affordable housing for Pittsburghers.

Flickr / Brook Ward In a way, that’s a wonderful new chapter for this historic home. First, it was a space for educating the youth of Pittsburgh and now, decades later after a difficult stint as an abandoned school in Pittsburgh, it will serve the community in a new way.

Click the play button below to go on a haunting tour of Larimer School’s abandoned school.

Google Maps

But before the property was turned into part of this new development, it had a fascinating history, and then decades of abandonment.

Wikimedia Commons/Leepaxton

It was the cream of the crop at its time, illustrating all kinds of innovation and architectural prestige.

Flickr/Todd Shirley

The main building, however, proved insufficient and several wings were added during Larimer School’s history.

Flickr / Brook Ward

There was some debate about the addition of an elaborate 125-foot high campanile (Italian-style bell tower) with the school bell in it. For all the investment that went into the building, it’s tragic that it didn’t have a longer legacy.

These areas featured a streamlined Art Deco style including an aluminum ceiling decorated in a geometric pattern and black wainscoting.

Shortly thereafter the beautiful stained glass windows were removed from the building and sold, a tragic affront to the architectural wonders of the building. Six years later, the hauntingly beautiful building earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places.

In a way, that’s a wonderful new chapter for this historic home. First, it was a space for educating the youth of Pittsburgh and now, decades later after a difficult stint as an abandoned school in Pittsburgh, it will serve the community in a new way.

Abandoned Larimer School may not remain abandoned for much longer but it is certainly not the only abandoned spot in the Pittsburgh area. Also, don’t forget to check out our feature article to read about five abandoned places in Pittsburgh that are being reclaimed by Mother Nature.

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Address: Old Larimer school building, 121 Winslow St, Pittsburgh, PA 15206, USA

The OIYS Visitor Center

Abandoned Places In Pittsburgh February 05, 2023 CC What are other abandoned places near me?  After checking out the site of the formerly abandoned Larimer School, consider visiting these other cool abandoned sites.

Peter and Paul Church Seldom Seen Greenway Brownsville General Hospital Piney Fork Railroad Tunnel Carrie Furnaces The Neill Log House Dixmont State Hospital Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike

  What are some haunted places in Pittsburgh? If you’ve got the guts for it, try checking out these haunted places in Pittsburgh as well.

Broughton School Carnegie Library of Homestead Pittsburgh Playhouse Chatham University Old Allegheny County Jail University of Pittsburgh Cathedral of Learning Blue Mist Road National Aviary

The OIYS Visitor Center

Abandoned Places In Pittsburgh

February 05, 2023

CC

What are other abandoned places near me?  After checking out the site of the formerly abandoned Larimer School, consider visiting these other cool abandoned sites.

Peter and Paul Church Seldom Seen Greenway Brownsville General Hospital Piney Fork Railroad Tunnel Carrie Furnaces The Neill Log House Dixmont State Hospital Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike

  What are some haunted places in Pittsburgh? If you’ve got the guts for it, try checking out these haunted places in Pittsburgh as well.

Broughton School Carnegie Library of Homestead Pittsburgh Playhouse Chatham University Old Allegheny County Jail University of Pittsburgh Cathedral of Learning Blue Mist Road National Aviary

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

After checking out the site of the formerly abandoned Larimer School, consider visiting these other cool abandoned sites.

  • Peter and Paul Church
  • Seldom Seen Greenway
  • Brownsville General Hospital
  • Piney Fork Railroad Tunnel
  • Carrie Furnaces
  • The Neill Log House
  • Dixmont State Hospital
  • Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike

 

What are some haunted places in Pittsburgh?

If you’ve got the guts for it, try checking out these haunted places in Pittsburgh as well.

  • Broughton School
  • Carnegie Library of Homestead
  • Pittsburgh Playhouse
  • Chatham University
  • Old Allegheny County Jail
  • University of Pittsburgh Cathedral of Learning
  • Blue Mist Road
  • National Aviary