back to school, part ii: 1920 school buildings by C.B.J. Snyder

(SEE OUR FIRST BACK TO SCHOOL POST, FROM SEPTEMBER 8.)

One hundred years ago today … When NYC children arrived at public school, many of them entered buildings designed by Charles B.J. Snyder in the course of his tenure, dating to 1891, as the NYC Superintendent of School Buildings. Thanks to the city’s Board of Education, 1920 photos of many of these structures are available, though sadly, all are in Manhattan.

Here are some examples. First. P.S. 1 on the Lower East Side:

P.S. 1, 8 Henry Street between Catherine and Oliver Streets.  1920. Board of Education, NYC. Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United  States History, Local History and Genealogy. New York Public Library.

P.S. 1, 8 Henry Street between Catherine and Oliver Streets. 1920. Board of Education, NYC. Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy. New York Public Library.

P.S. 23 in Chinatown became a community center that burned down in a fire in early 2020. The NYC Mayor said it had been “the beating heart of” Chinatown.

P.S. 23, 70 Mulberry Street. 1920. Board of Education, NYC. Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy. New York Public Library.

P.S. 23, 70 Mulberry Street. 1920. Board of Education, NYC. Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy. New York Public Library.

In Central Harlem, an example of Snyder’s H-shaped design, and a building now containing condos.

P.S. 90,  225 W 147 Street, off 7th Avenue. 1920. Board of Education, NYC. Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy. New York Public Library.

P.S. 90, 225 W 147 Street, off 7th Avenue. 1920. Board of Education, NYC. Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy. New York Public Library.

Another H-shape, the Patrick Henry school, then as now on East 103 Street off 5th Avenue.

P.S. 171. 1920. Board of Education, NYC. Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy. New York Public Library.

P.S. 171. 1920. Board of Education, NYC. Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy. New York Public Library.

On East 99 Street, the former P.S. 109 is on the US Register of Historic Places. It now houses El Barrio ArtSpace 109, subsidized apartments for artists, controversial because of its role in gentrifying the neighborhood.

P.S. 109., seen from 100 Street. 1920. Board of Education, NYC. Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy. New York Public Library.

P.S. 109., seen from 100 Street. 1920. Board of Education, NYC. Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy. New York Public Library.

In midtown, the landmarked building that at one point housed the legendary High School of the Performing Arts:

P.S. 67, 120 W 46 Street, between 6th & 7th Avenues. 1920. Board of Education, NYC. Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy. New York Public Library.

P.S. 67, 120 W 46 Street, between 6th & 7th Avenues. 1920. Board of Education, NYC. Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy. New York Public Library.

Another building on the US Register of Historic Places: the original location of P.S. 9.

P.S. 9, 464 West End Avenue. 1920. Board of Education, NYC. Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy. New York Public Library.

P.S. 9, 464 West End Avenue. 1920. Board of Education, NYC. Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy. New York Public Library.

(Note: NY1920 has posted images of Snyder buildings before: Morris High in the Bronx, Erasmus High in Brooklyn, and P.S. 166 on the Upper West Side.)

Snyder was a progressive; his work raised health and safety standards of school architecture, attending to light and ventilation in unprecedented ways. (Gray, Christopher, “Charles B. J. Snyder; Architect Who Taught a Lesson in School Design.” New York Times, 21 November 1999, p. 11.7)

WRITTEN BY JONATHAN GOLDMAN, SEPTEMBER 11, 2020.

TAGS: architecture, education, public schools, infrastructure, Board of Education, municipal government