Poppenhusen Institute
114-04 14th Road | also 114-01 15th Avenue, 114-02 14th Road | College Point | built 1868
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The city photographed every building for its tax records around 1940 and again in the 1980s. NYC Municipal Archives.
Written with AI from the source each entry cites, then fact-checked.
- 1868
Conrad Poppenhusen gives $100,000 for a free institute on his 50th birthday
Conrad Poppenhusen, the benefactor of College Point, marked his 50th birthday in 1868 by starting the institute and putting up $100,000 for a private educational venture. Like Cooper Union in Manhattan, it offered free teaching in the home arts and machinery to North Shore residents, and its charter opened it to everyone regardless of race, creed or religion.
“He began work on the institute on his 50th birthday in 1868, when he provided $100,000 to set up this project as a private educational venture…”
Source: Wikipedia
- 1868
Mundell & Teckritz crown the brick institute with a Second Empire mansard roof
The architects Mundell & Teckritz gave the institute a symmetrical, three-story brick body with Italianate features and topped it with a French Second Empire mansard roof, a combination typical of post-Civil War civic buildings. The Landmarks Commission called it a dignified example of the era's civic architecture.
“…combined features derived from the Italianate style with a French Second Empire mansard roof…”
- 1870
The institute opens the nation's first free kindergarten
On July 1, 1870, the institute opened what is described as the country's first free kindergarten, part of a mission that also covered the care of infants under five. It is also credited with the country's first free adult evening classes, teaching English, factory crafts, drafting and machine shop skills to local workers.
Source: Wikipedia
- 1872
The new College Point Savings Bank rents space in the institute, which also serves as village hall and jail
Besides its kindergarten for the children of working-class mothers, the institute acted as College Point's village hall, its free public library and even its jail. In 1872 the College Point Savings Bank, just established, became a tenant. College Point itself was only a year older than the institute, formed in 1867 when three villages merged.
“It also served as village hall, free public library and even as the local jail. In 1872, the newly established College Point Savings Bank rented space…”
- 1962
The College Point Historical Room marks its first year with a volunteer firefighting exhibit
In May 1962 the College Point Historical Room at the institute celebrated its first anniversary with an exhibit on the village's volunteer fire companies, showing fire equipment from the 1800s. Conrad Poppenhusen had started Enterprise Engine Company Two in 1861. After the engine retired in 1875, the unit became the Enterprise Hose Company and made its headquarters in barns next to the institute on 14th Road.
“Conrad Poppenhusen started the Enterprise Engine Company Two in 1861.”
Source: Wikipedia
- 1968
The Ponce family moves into the institute as its live-in caretakers
From January 1968 to December 1985 the Ponce family lived inside the Poppenhusen Institute. Dominick Ponce was trusted with caring for and overseeing the property and modernized the building's electrical wiring and plumbing. He died on February 14, 2011.
“…the Ponce Family lived within Poppenhusen Institute from January 1968 to December 1985…”
Source: Wikipedia
- 1970
The city designates the Poppenhusen Institute a landmark
The Landmarks Preservation Commission designated the institute on August 18, 1970, citing its contribution to education and its reminder of German immigrants' role in the country. At the time it still ran a private vocational school and English classes for newly arrived immigrants, and housed a public school kindergarten run by the Board of Education.
“It also houses a public school kindergarten, run by the City's Board of Education.”
Further reading
- Poppenhusen InstituteWikipedia
Nearby
- Poppenhusen Branch, Queens Public Library121-23 14th Avenue | 4 entries
- Herman A. and Malvina Schleicher House11-41 123rd Street | 5 entries