The Girl's High School 475 Nostrand Avenue Designed by James W. Naughton, 1885–86 James W. Naughton immigrated with his family from Ireland to Brooklyn when he was eight years old. Naughton became a trained architect and was closely involved in Brooklyn politics, which led him to the position of Superintendent of Buildings for the Board of Education from 1879–1898. As superintendent, Naughton designed all schools constructed in Brooklyn. The Girls’ School is the oldest surviving structure built as a high school in New York, and it served as the prototype for later high schools constructed in the city. A combination of Victorian Gothic and French Second Empire styles, the school is faced in red brick, terra cotta and contrasting stone. It is symmetrically massed, with a central towered entrance and three pavilions, each of which project and are connected by recessed sections. At the rear of the building is a large Collegiate-Gothic style addition designed in 1912 by long-time New York City Superintendent of School Buildings C.B.J. Snyder

ca. 1938 This two-story, wood-frame school was Public School 3, later known as Old Public School 3. The school was founded in 1855. The Board of Education was able to replace the school and move it to the site of Public School 3 on Jefferson and Hancock Avenues. The Old Public School was converted into a library in 1897 through a contribution of $1.6 million from Andrew Carnegie.

"Madison Street (right), at the northeast corner of Nostrand Avenue. The buildings on Nostrand Avenue extend to Monroe Street, 1941."

P.S. 93 is an elementary school located in Crown Heights, Brooklyn at the corner of Atlantic Avenue and New York Avenue. The school was built in 1907 in the "Collegiate Gothic" style. It was designed by the "school builder" of New York City, C.B.J. Snyder, who designed hundreds of school buildings in New York over his lifetime. In fact, he was appointed the Superintendent of School Building in the borough of Manhattan in 1891. Like many buildings in the Collegiate Gothic style, Snyder's P.S. 93 is meant to invoke feelings of academic prestige. The plan of the building is an L-shape, a departure from the architect's signature H-shaped school buildings, though a reflection of the corner lot it occupied. The building's structure is a steel skeleton frame to allow for large windows to let light and fresh air into classrooms. The bricks used in the building are fire-proof terracotta. Decorating the facade, the faces of medieval scholars and various owls of wisdom adorn the structure. This building still operates as an elementary school to this date.

Bedford Y.M.C.A. ca. 1923 In 1853 the first YMCA in Brooklyn opened its doors. Back then, the mission of the Young Men’s Christian Association was more evangelical than anything – but they did have a swimming pool and other such facilities. The Bedford Avenue branch opened in 1888 at its original location of 420 Gates Avenue in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Bedford-Stuyvesant. As the population of the area expanded in size, so did the need for an even larger space to accommodate everyone and by the turn of the century in 1901, construction was underway for a new space at 1115 Bedford Avenue. The new location (as seen above) officially opened its doors in 1905 offering amenities such as a state-of-the-art (at the time) gymnasium and swimming pool. Over the next several decades, the neighborhood’s changing demographics along with the continued segregation of YMCA facilities through the mid-1940s caused the Bedford Avenue YMCA’s visitors and memberships to dwindle. As a result, classes were permanently canceled, funding was reduced, and the property fell into a state of neglect. In 2007, instead of receiving much-needed renovations, the building was demolished and a new building was erected in its place. Now residing at 1121 Bedford Ave on the corner of Monroe Street, it has become one of the busiest locations in Brooklyn, with a membership roster of over 8,000 people.

In October of 1971, a group of protesters effectively closed J.H.S. 263. The action was inspired by the ousting of Principal Ozelius Clement. For the week leading up to the occupation, parents boycotted the school by barring their children from attendance. On October 13th, they locked arms to block entry into the building. According to the New York Times: "Parents and other community residents who have been supporting the two principals have charged that the district board, headed by Assemblyman Samuel D. Wright, is attempting to purge school personnel who will not support its efforts to use the district as a power base to enhance Mr. Wright's political ambitions. Mr. Wright has denied the charge."

Enoch Grand Lodge 423 Nostrand Avenue Designed by Heins & LaFarge, 1890 This exuberant building features a dominant corner tower, contrasting brick and terra cotta, finials, stylized capitals and stained glass from its days as the Reformed Episcopal Church of the Reconciliation. The building is notable for its architects. George Lewis Heins and Christopher Grant LaFarge met while studying at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and both trained under the renowned architect H.H. Richardson. A year after this church was completed, they won the design contest for the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Manhattan. They later became the designers of stations and buildings for the city’s first subway system, the IRT, in 1901.

Nostrand Avenue at Fulton Street, August 11, 1950. The Nostrand Avenue Line trolley tracks are visible at center on Nostrand. Traveling along Fulton Street is a bus manufactured by the General Motors Corporation. This was a GM "old-look" bus (compared to the “new-look” or “fishbowl” buses that were introduced in 1959). These vehicles, produced mostly between 1940 and 1959, were created with a monocoque (or structural skin) design, rather than a body-on-frame design, were diesel-powered, and had smaller windows than many of the buses produced after 1950. Some have compared the shape of this bus to a loaf of sandwich bread.

Boys High School, undated postcard. Rendered in a stately Richardsonian Romanesque Revival style, Boys High School was the work of Brooklyn Superintendent of School Buildings, James Naughton (who designed ALL of Brooklyn's schools for nearly two decades). This ornate architecture style of complex massing, repetitive arches, and soaring towers was popular in Brooklyn at the time. The main post office and fire house, social clubs, and private residences were all Richardsonian, though Boys High School is considered the epitome of the style in the city. Fully enrolled by the time it opened in 1892, the school had a number additions in the early 20th century. Famous alum of the school include Norman Mailer, Isaac Asimov, Aaron Copland, Man Ray, and architect Morris Lapidus. Boys and Girls High Schools were combined in 1975 in a new building and this one was left to deteriorate. Through the advocacy of the community and a landmark designation (in 1975) the building was kept from what might have been a likely demolition and eventually restored once again for use. Today it is home to charter schools and recently made a guest appearance as Knickerbocker Hospital in the TV show "The Knick."

Girls High School, May 1, 1942. Built 1885 to 1886, Girls High School is the oldest extant (surviving) public high school building in New York City. The school is described in its landmark designation report as "a striking combination of Victorian Gothic and French Second Empire styles." The architect was James Naughton, the Superintendent of Buildings for the Board of Education of the City of Brooklyn. He also created a 1891 rear extension, which has since been demolished. A 1912 Collegiate Gothic addition was designed by C.B.J Snyder, who later held the same position as Naughton, though his purview was all five boroughs. According to an 1895 article in the New York Times, it was "the ambition of every Brooklyn girl... to enter the Girls' High School where she may enjoy the advantages of an advanced education and be prepared for college." Famous alumni of the school include singer Lena Horne, politician Shirley Chisholm, and Jean Nidetch, who found Weight Watchers.

The Bedford-Stuyvesant community in northwest Brooklyn is a residential area, home to ornate rows of brownstones, early middle-class apartment buildings and several institutional structures. Bedford-Stuyvesant is characterized by its wide, tree-covered avenues and low-scale residences; generally only church spires and school towers rise taller than four stories. The majority of the buildings were constructed on speculation to house New York’s growing middle class, generally between 1870 and 1920. As late as 1869, Bedford-Stuyvesant was largely rural, with only some country houses and frame dwellings. In 1872 masonry rowhouses appeared when developer Curtis L. North commissioned 23 Italianate style rowhouses. From this point until the 1890s, development proceeded with many speculative builders and investors employing local architects to build residences; schools, churches and other institutions also appeared to serve the growing community. The Brooklyn Bridge opened in 1883, followed by the elevated line along Bedford-Stuyvesant’s commercial artery, Fulton Street, in 1888. Easier access to downtown Brooklyn and Manhattan greatly increased real estate values in the neighborhood. By the 1890s, speculative apartment houses debuted in Bedford-Stuyvesant, officially marking the change from a suburban to an urban area. The opening of the Williamsburg Bridge in 1903 bolstered this urbanization, and Bedford-Stuyvesant was densely built up by the end of the 1920s. The 1930s marked a population shift for Bedford-Stuyvesant as it became an increasingly African-American neighborhood. When the IND transit lines connecting the area to Harlem opened in 1936, Harlem residents were eager to leave cramped quarters for newer, more spacious options in Bedford-Stuyvesant. By 1950 the area was 90% black, and it remains a thriving African- and Caribbean-American neighborhood today. Bedford-Stuyvesant is an aesthetic gem of elegant residences. Many houses have yards with plantings surrounded by original cast-iron fences. Rowhouses are set back from the street and possess their original stoops and railings. The architectural style of buildings followed the trends popular during the area’s development, including Italianate, Neo-Grec, Romanesque Revival, Queen Anne, and, at the turn of the 20th century, Neo-Renaissance and Neo-Georgian appeared. The materials of the buildings also give an idea of their age; older buildings were constructed of brick and brownstone, while light-colored brick, terra-cotta and limestone became increasingly popular toward the turn of the 20th century. Stuyvesant Heights in Bedford-Stuyvesant was designated a New York City historic district in 1975, and a large extension of its boundaries had a public hearing in 2011. Residents in other areas of Bedford-Stuyvesant, including Bedford Corners, Stuyvesant North and Stuyvesant East, are also advocating for the landmarking of their neighborhoods. The low-scale buildings on tree-lined streets share architects, styles and details, together making Bedford-Stuyvesant a distinctive piece of New York City.

(church and rectory: George P. Chappell, 1886-90 parish house: Montrose Morris Sons, 1921) – church: NYC IL church and rectory: Set back from Pacific Street by a low fence, wrought iron gate a front yard, St. Bartholomew’s Church was designed in the Arts and Crafts style and features a roundarched stained glass window designed by Tiffany Studios in 1930, making it one of the studio’s last commissions, and a large square tower and belfry. The church played a significant role as one of the venerable institutions near Grant Square catering to the area’s Episcopal population. While the church itself is an individual landmark, neither the rectory to the east nor the parish house to the west are designated. The rectory is believed to have been constructed at the same time by the same architect, while the neo-Gothic parish house was added in 1921.

Invincible Club, ca. 1915. Constructed sometime before 1880, this building served as a private home for its first decade or so. In the mid 1890s its was sold to a private club called the the Irving Club, before being sold to the (hopefully) named Invincible Club, a local Republican political group. The political club added an addition to the house and hosted political speeches and rallies over the first three decades of the 20th century. At some point in the mid century the building was divided up and occupied as an SRO. It underwent a large-scale renovation in 2011 and is now a rental unit.

Sometimes creating affordable housing and preserving historical architecture goes hand-in-hand, like at Alhambra Apartments in Bed-Stuy. The block-long apartment building is located on Nostrand Avenue between Halsey and Macon Streets and dates back to 1889. It was designed by prominent NYC architect Montrose W. Morris, and features a unique blend of the Romanesque Revival and Queen Anne styles. The New York Times has even described this building as Morris’ “masterpiece”! Although designated as an official NYC historic landmark in 1986, Alhambra Apartments remained vacant and severely dilapidated until 1995 when HPD helped preserve its historic façade and convert its interior into low-income affordable housing with homeless set-asides. In 2010, HPD provided additional financing to secure the building’s stability and affordability, allowing it to be a pillar of the Bed-Stuy community into the future. In keeping with this work, HPD has now released a housing plan for Bed Stuy to prevent displacement, reduce housing speculation and create new affordable rental and homeownership opportunities on vacant land. Learn more at nyc.gov/bedstuy

The Boy's High School 832 Marcy Avenue Designed by James W. Naughton, 1891–92 The monumental Boys’ School was designed in the Romanesque Revival style and features quintessential design elements, such as rounded-arch windows and doors, dormer windows, gables, terra-cotta ornament, smooth brick façades and a rough-cut ashlar stone foundation. The imposing corner towers create a picturesque silhouette between this massive structure and the sky. Along with the Girls’ High School, it was the first public secondary school in New York City, and both were designated New York City landmarks in 1983.

Alhambra Apartments ARCHITECT: Montrose W. Morris DATE: 1889-90 STYLE: Romanesque Revival The Alhambra Apartments in the heart of Bedford-Stuyvesant is one of Brooklyn’s major apartment houses. Designed by Montrose W. Morris, it was built in 1889-90 by developer Louis F. Seitz and was one of a number of commissions Morris executed for Seitz, including two other exceptional apartment buildings, the Renaissance and the Imperial. Although the ground floor was converted into storefronts in 1923, the Alhambra is a distinguished design in a romantic combination of the Romanesque Revival and the Queen Anne styles.

Central Presbyterian Church, 1909. This site is now the Siloam Presbyterian Church. The structure photographed here is the Central Presbyterian Church. The church was lost in a fire in the 1930s and was rebuilt in 1936, though shortly after the congregation moved to 1200 Dean Street to merge with the Bedford Presbyterian Church. The building sat empty for some years until another congregation moved in. Siloam Presbyterian, a historically Black church, was originally looking to build a new structure in the place of their original worship hall at the intersection of Fulton and Cranberry Streets. However, the construction of the Manhattan Bridge Approach encroached on a portion of the land they were looking to develop. After years of meeting in various congregation halls and community spaces, Siloam Presbyterian Church moved to the former Central Church in 1944. At 260 Jefferson Street, Siloam Presbyterian continued its legacy as a site that pioneered activism and social reform. Its Reverend, Milton Galamison, was a member of the Brooklyn Branch of the NAACP and an outspoken community activist. He founded the Parents' Workshop for Equality in New York Schools, which strived to end racial discrimination and offer all children equal opportunities, namely Black and Puerto Rican students who had been disenfranchised by the New York Public School System. In 1959, Siloam hosted the "Moslem Dinner and Surprise Program," a program run by Malcolm X, a member of the Nation of Islam at the time. Galamison, of Siloam, was the leader of one of the largest Presbyterian congregations in the predominantly African-American neighborhood of Bed-Stuy. By opening his doors to another religious group, Rev. Galamison "situated the Muslims...in a place encoded by a tradition that shared the NOI’s commitment to anti-racist work," according to Zaheer Ali in the African American Intellectual Society's "Black Perspectives." This move united the two leaders and was exemplary of how "local conditions placed different activists and their communities into shared spaces that offered the potential for the exchange and critique of ideas." In later years, Galamison organized two school boycotts: the first in 1964, called "Freedom Day," to pressure the Board of Education to integrate schools, and the second just a month later. In 2019, Siloam Presbyterian Church celebrated its 170th year anniversary.

Boy’s High School, Brooklyn Located in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn and built in 1891-92, this Romanesque Revival building is one of former Superintendent of Buildings for the Board of Education of the City of Brooklyn, James W. Naughton’s masterpieces. Considered to be the one of the most important public schools in Brooklyn, the building was designed to be an architectural statement, richly adorned with terracotta and accented by a round corner tower, gables and dormers. Landmarked in 1975 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, Boy’s High School remains “one of Brooklyn’s finest buildings”.