Wikipedia

Brooklyn Heights Seminary

The Brooklyn Heights Seminary was a private school in Brooklyn, New York.

Early history edit

The Brooklyn Heights Seminary was founded by Alonzo Gray in 1851.[1][2][3] It was an offshoot of the Brooklyn Female Academy (est. 1845), which eventually became the Packer Collegiate Institute.[1] The school was originally located at 88 Montague Place, now known as Montague Street, in Brooklyn Heights, and later at 138-140 Montague Street.[4][3] The original faculty consisted of Professor Gray, Miss Arethusa Hall, and twelve other teachers.[1] 166 pupils enrolled in the school's first year.[1] The school's "Board of Visitors" included many well-known Brooklynites of the time, including Henry Ward Beecher.[1] Reverend Richard S. Storrs lectured at the school during its first year.[1] He also served as temporary principal after Gray passed away in March 1861.[1] In September 1861, the school was purchased by Dr. Charles E. West, who served as principal until his retirement in 1889.[1][5] His assistant principal was Mary A. Brigham.[1][6] Clara B. Colton took over leadership of the school in 1889, in partnership with three other faculty members.[1] Colton retired in 1903.[1]

Incorporation and later history edit

Upon Colton's retirement, a committee composed of the school's patrons and the Brooklyn Heights Seminary Club incorporated the school under a Board of Trustees with Teunis G. Bergen as president.[1] Ellen Yale Stevens was appointed as principal and the former Chittenden mansion at 18 Pierrepont Street was leased to house the school.[1][7][3] In 1906 the Trustees purchased the property, and in 1907 a three-story extension was added with a gymnasium and classrooms.[1] The extension was named Stanton Hall in memory of Mr. George A. Stanton.[1][3]

In 1914 Florence Greer was appointed assistant principal.[1] Greer became principal in 1923 and held the position until her death in 1933.[8]

The school ceased to operate after Greer's death.[3] Its building was demolished in 1934 to make way for apartment buildings.[2][7][9][3]

Notable people edit

Alumnae edit

Faculty edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p The Brooklyn Heights Seminary Sixty-Sixth Annual Announcement, 1917-1918. 1917.
  2. ^ a b "Razing Heights Seminary". Brooklyn Times Union. April 20, 1934. p. 3. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Raze Heights Seminary for 2 Apartments". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. April 19, 1934. p. 3. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  4. ^ The Brooklyn Heights Seminary Sixty-Fifth Annual Announcement, 1916-1917. 1916.
  5. ^ "Prof. West To Retire" (PDF). The New York Times. March 5, 1889. p. 9. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  6. ^ "Mourned by Alumnae: Mount Holyoke Graduates Pay Tributes to Miss Brigham's Memory" (PDF). The New York Times. November 17, 1889. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  7. ^ a b "Contracts for $1,000,000 Boro Apartments Let". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. April 27, 1934. p. 25. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  8. ^ "Seminary Head Dies in 58th Year". Brooklyn Times Union. July 21, 1933. p. 22. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  9. ^ "Former Grads Mourn Passing of Seminary". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. April 20, 1934. p. 2. Retrieved February 6, 2023.

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