Dependency |
Main
| 29¢ History
January 26, 2007
Echoes
As part of my public school architecture and social history project, I have been tracing the evolution of Board of Education buildings in one particular neighborhood, hoping to gain insight into how the structures changed, both in design and location, as well as population, over time. The first step in this process was figuring out what schools originally existed. Once that was out of the way, I began researching the history of each site. I have been particularly interested in those buildings that no longer exist and have spent a good amount of time trying to figure out why they were demolished- whether shifts in population or simple structural design rendered them obsolete, etc.
P.S. 13, which was originally located on Degraw Street off of Hicks in Brooklyn, was demolished in 1961 and row of attached houses was built on the site. The building that was razed had actually replaced another in the early 1860's which was completely decimated in a gale (this is actually a neat story, to be told at another time). While reading the building history record files for second school, I came across an unpublished letter from one Elias S. Wilentz to the New York Times, dated June 30, 1961. In decrying the demolition of P.S. 13, he said the following:
While I personally would be appalled at people steeping themselves in the past and thereby forgetting the present world about, I am also taken aback at the evident willingness of people to destroy the past by attempting to ignore or destroy it- both its people and its structures...For this uprooting seems to me to serve no purpose other than to make us driftless and dehumanized. P.S. 13 is a fine old building whose only fault is that it is not stylish in term of 1961 (plus the fact that our City Fathers find it much more desirable- for not too obscure reasons- to tear down public buildings for replacement with spanking news ones, rather than renovating or rehabilitating what we have).
At the time, P.S. 13 was the oldest school building in Brooklyn. The original school was simply the center portion of the building; the left and right wings were added in 1879/1880. Most of the students were relocated to P.S. 29 (circa 1864), located a few blocks away on Columbia and Amity Streets. That building no longer exists, either.
Elias Wilentz was the owner of the Eighth Street Bookshop, which was a legendary participant in the Beat movement during the 50's and 60's. In 1964, Wilentz was the editor and one of several "literary walkers" who revised the original 1939 WPA Guide to New York. He was also actively involved in the preservation of historic literary landmarks. I think it is interesting that he felt so strongly about a school building- one which, from an architectural standpoint, was not unique in its construction or decoration. Perhaps it was the principle of the thing that made him pen the note to the Times, or maybe not. I probably will never know, however it is nice to see that someone else was moved by a simple old schoolhouse, just like me.
Posted by callalillie at January 26, 2007 7:19 AM | City Life
, Education
, History
I love how he showed his passion in the letter,
I am now getting a greater understanding of how people attach themselves to buildings. I've just recently moved to Houston and have the benefit of seeing people react to the potential destruction of a 1920's shopping center and how the community is joining together to stop the redevelopment.
Posted by: Jenifer at January 26, 2007 2:46 PM
today at the thriftstore i found a Junior Girl Scout Handbook Circa 1964,complete with the math homework of the girl who owned it. It was a very cool feeling. I am thinking about trying to track down who it belonged to--i have only her name and approximate age--and return her homework.
If not, it reminded me of you and your "Arthur" letters, etcetera
Posted by: Seton at January 28, 2007 1:19 AM
That's awesome, Seton! If you have her full name you could probably track her family down. Shoot me an email if you want some help!
Posted by: corie at January 29, 2007 1:14 PM
Food for thought - last Friday I attended a "Teacher Appreciation Sabbath" and went to a synagogue for the first time ever. One of the things that struck me was the reverence for history, woven into the service itself as well as a focal point in the rabbi's "sermon" (is that the word for it?). As part of every service, the names of former synagogue members who have passed away are called, and as each one is called, his/her family members stand up. I thought about how my student, a 14 year-old, had been doing this since she was two, is doing it now, and would do it until she herself is nearing death. It means more and something different for her as she grows older. The rabbi talked about the 24 hour news cycle, and how a generation that can find out everything that's going on in the world right now - right now on their cell phones - can lose perspective regarding the importance of history. I would go at least hours and sometimes days between contact with various friends and family. Today, it's only when we're asleep that we "lose" contact. When last week is so passe - thinking about how long ago it seems for someone who never loses contact with their friends, for example - fifty years ago seems truly like ancient history. I wonder if this has had an impact on society's willingness to demolish and build new.
Posted by: Debbie at February 1, 2007 9:06 PM
