ARCHITECTURE: THE SPEYER SCHOOL 2017

Harlem Bespoke: The answer to last week's history post is the Speyer School in Manhattanville. Below is the original Bespoke post with a little bit of history on the distinct building.  Check out the archival photo here: LINK

 On the western borders of Harlem, in Manhattanville, one will noticed a very unique German Renaissance-style building with an impressive, stepped gable facade. Completed in 1902, the Speyer School was one of the first community centers in Harlem. Philanthropist and banker James Speyer founded this "settlement house," which would provide education to former village of Manhattanville. Over the years, Columbia University acquired the building before selling it to St. Mary's Church, which is steps from the school on the former Lawrence Street. Located on 514 West 126th Street, between Broadway and Amsterdam, the building today carries on its charitable past as a hospice run by its benefactor church. Read more on St. Mary's in last week's post: LINK

HarlemBespoke.com 2017