Harrison-MortonMiddle School

History

History of Harrison Morton! 

Erected: 1925
Renovations/Additions: 1930, 1953, 1961, 1971, 1986
Sq. Footage: 151,398
 
Harrison-Morton Middle School (HMMS) dates back to the time when two separate schools, Harrison and Morton, were founded in the 1st Ward of the city.
 
Harrison, a grammar school for boys, was built in 1874 and later named for President Benjamin Harrison, who served as the 23rd U.S. president 1889-1893. The girls’ grammar school, founded in 1891, was named for Dr. J.R. Morton, who served on the school board from 1889 to 1910.
 
In 1927, the schools merged and became a junior high school. At the time, the building had 48 rooms, including two gymnasiums and a library. In 1953, an annex was built to house home economics laboratories, a reading center and a cafeteria. It has remained for the most part in this same format today and serves students who live on the east side of the City of Allentown.

Allentown School District kicks off middle school transformation ...