The old school houses of Harlem always fascinates us when we find one that is no longer in existence. The public housing tower at 131-133 St. Nicholas Avenue and West 117th Street is surrounded by an expanse of open land, and we did some research on the building that used to exist on the double wide city lot. The top photo shows the CBJ Snyder designed P.S. 10 building standing on this exact corner circa 1920. The ornate school would have been built during the early 19th century when Harlem's population was growing in leaps and bounds. Once the Depression years rolled around, central Harlem started to lose its population with a quarter of its numbers dissipating from the years of 1950 to 1960. This would be the start of a demographic shift that would exponentially grow until the population would diminish to half of what it was at its height. The government started closing down many of the schools during those following decades, and the last information on P.S. 10 was documented in 1963 when DOB records show that the building was scheduled for demolition.
Archival photo courtesy NYPL. Current photo by Ulysses
The old school houses of Harlem always fascinates us when we find one that is no longer in existence. The public housing tower at 131-133 St. Nicholas Avenue and West 117th Street is surrounded by an expanse of open land, and we did some research on the building that used to exist on the double wide city lot. The top photo shows the CBJ Snyder designed P.S. 10 building standing on this exact corner circa 1920. The ornate school would have been built during the early 19th century when Harlem's population was growing in leaps and bounds. Once the Depression years rolled around, central Harlem started to lose its population with a quarter of its numbers dissipating from the years of 1950 to 1960. This would be the start of a demographic shift that would exponentially grow until the population would diminish to half of what it was at its height. The government started closing down many of the schools during those following decades, and the last information on P.S. 10 was documented in 1963 when DOB records show that the building was scheduled for demolition. Archival photo courtesy NYPL. Current photo by Ulysses
wow - that is incredibly depressing. it never ceases to amaze me how a glorious structure is demolished and then replaced by something soulless. of course there is no better example than the demolition of the original penn station - it is, still today, one of the worst travesties in nyc architectural history.
ReplyDeleteDitto
ReplyDeleteIt is a disgrace how City leaders, Harlem's community leaders, and Harlem residents let some of these beautiful, historic buildings deteriorate i.e. the Corn Exchange. It's outright pathetic.
ReplyDeleteReally what Harlem leaders need to do is save these buildings by letting private developers purchase them with the caveat that they save facades and historical elements.
ReplyDeleteBut look at the corn exchange, and look at the Renaissance Ballroom and look at PS 186. All a disgrace. If given to private developers for condos then we would still be able to appreciate these buildings.
The mistake is trusting poor organizations, especially churches that do not have the means to turn properties around.
I think one of the solutions would be to let rich institutions like Columbia or City College purchase these buildings.
I was born in Harlem in 1916 the last of 6 children and the apartment, although large,was too small now that I came along. My Dad was a developer of vacant properties in Harlem, prior to my being and after. My Dad retired in 1928. The family left Harlem in 1917. The street of my birth was W.111St. between Lenox and Fifth Avenues and many famous celebrities once lived on that street, too.
ReplyDeleteMy brothers, sister, brother in laws and husband were all graduates of PS#10.
ReplyDeleteI had Mr.Portnow in the 5th grade at PS10 in 1941. He took our class on Field Trips almost every week. I have such happy memories of those days. The Cloisters, Central Park and Zoo are vivid memories.
ReplyDeleteI moved into the "new" 131 when it was first built in 1963 ( I was two years old). Tell me when it was originally PS 10, what was the neighborhood like??
ReplyDeleteI lived across the Street on 117th St from PS10, and went there during the WWII war years, and my parents finally moved in 1959. I have fond memories of this school, and the surrounding neighborhood. These I called, the wonder years, living in Harlem.
ReplyDelete