SCOUTING
FIELD NOTES

Hidden Treasures In A Brooklyn Public School (Including The Coolest Stained Glass Window Ever!)

05/21/2012

Today (Monday) is the FINAL DAY to vote for a Partners in Preservation site! Click here to vote now – these places need every vote they can get.

A few months ago, I was scouting out in Flatbush, Brooklyn, when I happened to walk by Erasmus Hall High School.

I’d driven by a bunch of times in the past, but this was my first time on foot. As I stopped to admire its castle-like facade, I suddenly noticed something…

Just through the gates…

…in what appeared to be a courtyard…

What the heck was that in the middle of a New York City public school??

When I saw the Erasmus Hall High School was on the list for a Partners in Preservation grant (the ONLY New York Public School, in fact – click here to vote now!), I jumped at the chance to go beyond the gate.

As it turns out, this was once Erasmus Hall Academy, the oldest chartered high school in New York. Built in 1786, the building today is in decent shape considering its age and neglect…

…though the surrounding neighborhood has changed quite a bit!

Land for the building was donated by the Flatbush Dutch Church, which still stands across the street. This is one of my favorite churches in New York simply because of how easy it is to picture a time when it was surrounded by farmland.

With Alexander Hamilton and Arron Burr among its early benefactors, Erasmus Hall Academy first opened its doors in 1787 with a class of 26. The school began accepting female students in 1801, when enrollment numbered over 100. Below, a picture taken in 1940:

Ultimately, Erasmus Hall Academy found itself competing with the New York City public school system, to which it eventually donated its land in 1896.

Sadly, the building was looking quite a lot better in 1940:

Left to decay for decades, Erasmus Hall Academy appears to finally be on the path toward restoration thanks to various preservation grants awarded to it in the last year.

Erasmus Hall Academy is just one of the many gems to be found hidden on the Erasmus Hall High School campus.

Designed by architect and Superintendent of School Buildings C. B. J. Snyder, the Erasmus Hall campus was built on land surrounding the old Academy structure in four phases, beginning in 1905.

Essentially, the school grew from a small building on Flatbush…

…into a much wider building on Flatbush…

…until finally, the quadrangle to Bedford Ave was completed.

While building details become more sparse as you move beyond the Flatbush facade (a cost-cutting technique), there are still some great bits to be found, like this odd fellow wrapped up in a ball and holding a cog of some sort (anyone know?).

I love these enormous lanterns, which can be found all over the street side of the building:

Meanwhile, a pair of serious looking owls adorn the main entrance:

However, as you may have noticed, the Partners in Preservation grant is not for statuary or old clapboard school buildings, but for the “restoration of four stained glass artwork.”

Because as it turns out, Erasmus Hall High School has quite a bit of stained glass…

…including one of the coolest stained glass windows I’ve ever seen:

Ha, OK, before we move on, can someone please explain this one to me?? I get the others – chemistry, for example…

…Architecture and design…

…Earth sciences…

…and astronomy…

But what is this one?? The symbol for Slytherin?? Either way, it’s one of my all time favorites (anyone looking for a new tattoo?).

One of the true gems of the school’s stained-glass window collection is a five-paneled Tiffany set, pictured here above the front entrance.

Originally, this was centerpiece of the school’s library…which of course was later chopped up into smaller classrooms, completely obscuring the Tiffany windows.

Installed in 1919 to pay tribute to Walter B. Gunnison, the school’s first principal, today you can admire them only at the most irritating angle imaginable.

The central crowned figure is the personification of knowledge, garbed in Greek and Roman garb.

If there’s a centerpiece to the school’s stained glass collection, it’s to be found at the front of the recently restored auditorium…

Seriously – this is in a public school:

At first, I was surprised that Biblical imagery was allowed into the decor of a public school. Then I realized these were actually depictions from the life of Erasmas, the Dutch Renaissance theologist, teacher, and priest for whom the school is named.

The work is epic, yet was added to the building by Snyder at very little extra cost:

Meanwhile, on both sides of the auditorium…

…are additional stained glass windows, spanning all three floors:

One great non-window detail…

…pairs of red-eyed owls lining the auditorium’s columns:

The final stained glass art to be restored can be found at one of the school’s entrances…

Here, each panel depicts elements of America’s growth. In particular, I love the skyscrapers rising out of the log cabin:

Below, Commerce and Transportation (also love the train!).

Finally, Letters and Communication:

The preservation work is being carried out by Public Art For Public Schools, a group devoted to saving artwork found in public schools throughout the five boroughs. As you can imagine, there’s very little money for this sort of thing, so every penny counts. Unfortunately, Erasmus Hall High School is currently at the bottom of the voting list, and today’s the last day…

SO BE SURE TO VOTE!!!

-SCOUT

Many more posts in the archives!

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D

05/21/2012

I would venture to say that the skull/serpent/book stands for “the wages of sin is death” Biblical idea. The book is the Bible, the serpent is the temptor, and the skull is death. So…i think it stands for religion/morality

Reply
Barbara Kass

05/21/2012

EHHS Class of 1949. Never realized at the time how beautiful it was. To me it was just scary.

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Bryan Jones

05/21/2012

The skull on the book tells you that the influence and admiration of Molly Hatchet is both far reaching and timeless.

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Blinky Pitz

05/22/2012

The statue looks identical to the one in Rotterdam, (Erasmus’s birthplace)which is from 1620 and the first bronze statue in the Netherlands. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rotterdam_standbeeld_Erasmus.jpg

oh and I think the skull stands for excellence in hardrock.

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sixpenny

05/24/2012

I suspect it is the Fruit of the Tree of Knowledge – presented by the serpent which also introduced mortality – the skull.

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Lauren F

05/25/2012

Great post, my grandmother graduated from Erasmus way back in the day when it was private. I will share this post with my father (her son) who grew up in Midwood

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Maryann

05/29/2012

I think the skull stained glass is an allusion to Erasmus himself. He

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Erasmus-schedel.jpg

He was Biblical scholar. The ourobouros = resurrection.

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Sylvia

05/30/2012

I graduated from EHHS in 1991. Prior to my graduation the school was split into 4 houses, humanities, sciences, art/performing arts, and another that I cannot remember. It is ice to see that they have restored the auditorium, I remember it being brown. Many years before attending Erasmus I attended my grade school graduation in that auditorium. I believe there is also an Olympic sized swimming pool in one of the basements. It was restored a few years after I graduated.

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1. Betsy Smith
  
  03/09/2014
  
  When I went to EHHS (class of ’62), there was a sign on the wall of the pool that said, “Do not expectorate.”
  
  On a different note entirely, Barbra sang in Chapel (we didn’t call it the auditorium) long before she sang in Barclay Center, in fact, before she was Barbra. Surely someone could send her this and perhaps add to the restoration funds…
  
  Reply
kim

05/31/2012

I think the window with the skull and serpent may represent the healing arts, which begins with biology, so either or.

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gsmiley

06/02/2012

The little burgher in the ball is a stone-masonry masterpiece and it is a hard slog – these guys get bored and take whatever opportunity they may to add a bit of mischief. Of course the cog and shaft refer to the wheels of commerce and industry but for laughs the cog can be construed as pubic hair. It really is a buzz to get away with these things, and neither the innocent nor the illuminati are offended, only fools who are neither -if somehow brought to their attention. Please forgive and forget if you are in the third category.

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Stuart Dauermann

06/08/2012

I graduated in 1960 when there were “only” 5000 students there. We were on triple shifts as I recall, some students coming in before eight in the morning, leaving before 2:00 p.m., and some coming in near noon, and leaving around 5:00 (with no lunch hour of course). My older sister went there as well, as did my mother I believe. There was a Math teacher there named Ms Crespi who was ancient at the time I had her, with hands gnarled by arthritis, clutching the chalk in her hand, writing on the blackboard. She was still pursuing her own education even at that age . . . ever the learner and the educator. Other teachers were likewise memorable, and although Streisand an I were in the school at the same time, I don’t think I ever met her, or as she would sing it, “Evah met her.” Most indelible memories are of singing doo wop music on the sidewalk in front of Nedicks where my friends and I ate, not having the requisite budget for the clique that ate at Garfields Cafeteria! Memories. O to be back there then!!

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1. Cathy Sarah
  
  05/16/2015
  
  Stuart, Barbra had the gym locker across from mine in senior year in 1959. The two events I remember was
  
  1) Toward the end of the senior year, in gym, as we were changing into our school clothes, she told us she was auditioning for the part of Ms. Marmelstein, in “I Can Get It For You Wholesale” (I believe that was the title), an off-Broadway play. Two months later I see her photo on a magazine cover — she got the part and the rest is history.
  
  2) Trudy Wallace was voted “Best Singer Most Likely to Succeed.” She of course was a WASP. Barbra had the last laugh.
  
  Reply
  1. Tzipporah
    
    07/30/2015
    
    Listen Cathy, you got some shit wrong about Trudy Wallace and you’re rude. Trudy isn’t a wasp, she’s Jewish, stop trying to turn this into an anti Semitic attack against Barbra; it isn’t. Furthermore, she wasn’t a star like Barbra but she had a good career and a happy life. Stop being a jerk.
    
    Reply
2. SD
  
  01/06/2016
  
  I graduated in 1963 and remember the split schedules — I even attended the Annex as a Freshman. You might like a blog I contribute comments to. It can be accessed at drmetablog.com, or else just google dr metablog. Lots of posts about Brooklyn and Erasmus in the 1950s and 1960s. Several teachers are mentioned: Walter Balletto, Fannie Spieler, Nina Dusenberry, Grace Denman, Elaine Fialka Kramer, Odalie Greve, Bertha Thomas, Howard Bloom, Shirley Nash, Helen McQueen, A. Barnett Langdale, Harriet Oxman (became principal), etc. My post comments are signed SD.
  
  Reply
John

06/10/2012

So this is the famous Erasmus Hall! I learned about it from Kenny Vance and the Planotones’ song “Looking For an Echo,” in which it’s immortalized.

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1. SD
  
  01/06/2016
  
  I graduated in 1963 and remember the split schedules — I even attended the Annex as a Freshman. You might like a blog I contribute comments to. It can be accessed at drmetablog.com, or else just google dr metablog. Lots of posts about Brooklyn and Erasmus in the 1950s and 1960s. Several teachers are mentioned: Walter Balletto, Fannie Spieler, Nina Dusenberry, Grace Denman, Elaine Fialka Kramer, Odalie Greve, Bertha Thomas, Howard Bloom, Shirley Nash, Helen McQueen, A. Barnett Langdale, Harriet Oxman (became principal), etc. My post comments are signed SD.
  
  Reply
Cherri

08/07/2012

Im absolutely sick to my stomach after seeing what they did to the library. It was so beautiful when I attended school there from 1964 to 1968. It was like a sanctuary. The campus was so beautiful to walk in on a warm spring day. The Academy was used for offices for the guidance councillors. It is in such disrepair ir it appalling. Parking inside the Arch????never!!!!! Please don’t let this beautiful part of Flatbush pass away unnoticed!!!

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1. Danna
  
  08/22/2012
  
  They didnt change the library the library is still on the 4th floor what you see there is the art room they spilt the art room in half to make a detention room. The library is big with the wood chairs ans stained glass dont worry they would not do.anything with the library it has to much history!!!!
  
  Reply
Danna

08/22/2012

This was really cool!!! I enjoyed reading about my school. I just graduated from 8th grade in that audtorium on June 27!!!! 🙂 . In the basement of the old buiding is alot of instruments, chairs && rusty pipes along the ceiling. Its cool to see but the students are not allowed to go by the structure. Thx for writing this article :-*

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Pam Shelden

08/23/2012

Like Stuart, I attended Erasmus in the 60’s (the late ones) and, also like Stuart, I credit my computer-literate son with alerting me to this wonderful post. The New York City school system was (and still IS in many respects) filled with gem-like public institutions (clearly, Erasmus topped the list from my prejudiced point of view), educating so many of us in ways that prepared us incredibly well for the rigor of any post-secondary school university or professional-school education we went on to acquire. Long may superb public schools continue in their missions! They need all our help and support.

Reply
Shayne Hoffler

02/07/2013

Great blog! Sorry to change the subject, but I recently had some hail damage to my house, so I’m looking to find a great roofing company in Nashville TN. Have you read any recent buzz? There’s a roofing company in Hendersonville, right outside of Nashville, called AE Roofing & Exteriors who could be good, but I’ve only seen a few reviews. Here’s the address of these Nashville roofers, 108 Midtown Court #203 Hendersonville, TN 37075 (615) 431-2283. Let me know your thoughts! Thanks!

Reply
1. spinetingler
  
  04/23/2014
  
  DIAF, spammer.
  
  Reply
Rupert

03/22/2013

The school building is beautiful, but it is a shame that the school has a horrendous reputation that’ll never wash away. I blame the inevitable change in the neighborhood. Poor Erasmus Hall, through the various shootings and stabbing in the ’80’s and ’90’s… And finally closed in 1994. I strongly disagree with closing schools, but Erasmus Hall became so out of control that it did have to be put down.

Undoubtedly, the school is much safer, but it’s ridiculous. The students currently attending the school do not deserve the building and I’d like to see it go to a private and/or specialized school. Erasmus Hall has one of the most beautiful campuses in NYC for a public school (others would include John Dewey High School in Gravesend, Brooklyn and Flushing High School in Flushing, Queens).

Physically, the is one of the gems in beauty in public education. Academically, no. And it’s a shame because it’s all part of the plan to destroy public education in New York City. Thank you for this post. I’ve been inside Erasmus Hall only once but have never seen the pool and stained glass in detail.

I hope Erasmus becomes one of the best high schools in New York City again, because the building is simply going to waste. So much successful alumni have graduated from there.

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Timothy

05/23/2013

OMG I GO TO THIS SCHOOL AND I DID NOT EVEN KNOW ABOUT THIS

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Ribber

05/30/2013

I graduated from Erasmus during its heyday, and I have very fond memories. BTW, the auditorium was called “Chapel.”

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Nina

06/02/2013

I graduated in 1970. The graduation ceremonies were always held outside on the lawn, unless it rained for 2 days in a row, then it was held in the chapel, where each student could only have 1 guest, since our class had 1300+ students. There were 5000 students in total, plus or minus, with about 350 of them, all freshmen, attending at the anne, which was the 3rd floor of a public school some distance away. Juniors & seniors attended from 7 or 8 am until around 2 or 3 pm, with lunch hour starting at 10:30. Sophomores & freshman started arriving at 10:30 at left at either 4 or 5 pm, with their lunch starting at 1 or so. We didn’t have lockers; we had to carry all of our belongings & coats with us all day. The only floors that went completely around the bulding were the 1st & 2nd. If you had a class on the 3rd floor on the Church Ave side & the next class was on the 5th floor in the building across from it, you had to go all the way down to the 1st floor, run across campus, & run up 5 flights of stairs, all in under 10 minutes! We all had to also pass a swimming test. I remember having to wear the awfull swimsuit! Our gym uniforms were hideous, too! A weird shade of green! The stairs outside the main office and throughout the buldingsmwere amazing also. I believe that quite a few of the outdoor school / college scenes in “Law & Order: SVU” is filmed here. I now wish that I had taken the time & been able to tour more of the school when I went there. I would have loved to explore the towers on the Flatbush side.

Reply
1. Cathy Sarah
  
  05/16/2015
  
  You brought back so many funny memories…having to get out of the pool, dress, run across campus lawn with wet head in the snow, and run up 5 flights in the tower to Music, in 5 minutes (they never gave us 10!). Who needed gym after that?
  
  Reply
2. SD
  
  01/06/2016
  
  I graduated in 1963 and remember the split schedules — I even attended the Annex as a Freshman. You might like a blog I contribute comments to. It can be accessed at drmetablog.com, or else just google dr metablog. Lots of posts about Brooklyn and Erasmus in the 1950s and 1960s. Several teachers are mentioned: Walter Balletto, Fannie Spieler, Nina Dusenberry, Grace Denman, Elaine Fialka Kramer, Odalie Greve, Bertha Thomas, Howard Bloom, Shirley Nash, Helen McQueen, A. Barnett Langdale, Harriet Oxman (became principal), etc. My post comments are signed SD.
  
  Reply