555 West End Avenue, aka 553-559 West End Avenue; 300 West 87th Street

555-559 West End Avenue

Date: 1907-1908

NB Number: NB 575-1907

Type:  Institutional

Architect:  William A Boring

Developer/Owner/Builder: New York Protestant Episcopal Public Schoo

NYC Landmarks Designation:  Historic District

Landmark Designation Report: Riverside Drive – West End Historic District Extension I

National Register Designation: N/A

Primary Style:  Collegiate Gothic

Primary Facade:   Brick and Limestone

Stories: 6

Window Type/Material: One-over-one/Wood

Structure:  Significant Architectural Features: Stone base and basement; arched entrance with molded reveal and carved label molding with angel label stops and cartouche; recessed doorway; three story projecting center bay featuring triple windows with molded surrounds; medallions in form of open books in spandrels; triple windows with keyed surrounds; Tudor arched fenestration at sixth story; copper oriel at sixth story; label moldings at first and sixth stories; brick and stone crenellated parapet decorated with a pattern of blind arcades topped by quatrefoils; brick and stone colonnettes with owl corbels and crenellated caps; stone colonnettes; Special Windows: Copper oriel (sash replaced); small windows with wood one-over-one sash; Decorative Metal Work: Areaway fence with quatrefoil design

Building Notes: Carved plaques on the plinths of the entrance commemorate the date of construction (1907) and Cathedral College (1941). There are possibly historic window grilles within entrance.

Site Features: Historic areaway fence on stone curb along both frontages

Notable History and Residents: The school was built by the New York Protestant Episcopal School Corporation (aka Trinity School) to house St. Agatha’s School for Girls (established 1898) its sister school. Trinity sold the building to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese in 1941 and it became the home of Cathedral College, a high school and college seminary. Since 1992, it has housed St. Agnes Boys’ High School, a Roman Catholic school formerly located on East 44th Street

Historic District: Riverside Drive-West End HD Extension I

Alterations: Windows and transoms replaced (except as noted); stoop railings; parapet altered; metal fence behind parapet; metal sign; doorbell; lock; pipe, spigot, conduits and light at basement; siamese hydrant extends from wall through fence; metal chimney on roof

East Facade: Designed (historic, parapet altered) Stoop: Historic Door(s): Replaced primary door Windows: Mixed (upper stories); replaced (basement) Security Grilles: Possibly historic (upper stories); possibly historic (basement) Sidewalk Material(s): Concrete Curb Material(s): Stone Areaway Wall/Fence Materials: Historic metal fence with stone posts Areaway Paving Material: Concrete

South Facade: Partially designed (historic) (partially visible) Facade Notes: Yellow brick; stair tower with crenellated parapet; windows mixed, possibly historic one-over-one windows in stair tower and three-over-three windows with transoms; stone sills and lintels; metal grilles; fire escape; vaulted gymnasium with copper flashing

North Facade: Designed (historic) Facade Notes: Vaulted gymnasium with copper flashing on roof; possibly historic windows and grilles in basement; grouped windows, with full surround, across first and second story of western bay; windows with colored glass lights at fourth story; windows replaced (except as noted); gymnasium glazing replaced with brick; some patching and repointing; parapet altered, louvered vents in parapet; non-historic fences at roof; basement service entrances with possibly historic gate on northeast, metal door on northwest; areaway fence altered by non-historic addition and gate; concrete and diamond plate staircases to basement

References: Timothy C. Jacobson, Charity and Merit: Trinity School at 300 (Lebanon, NH: University Press of New England, 2009), 143-4, 166 (Google books); “History of Neumann College,” (http://www.archny.org/seminary/saint-john-neuman-seminary-college/history-of-the-neumann-college, accessed June 7, 2011); St. Agnes High School History (http://www.staghs.org/page24.php, accessed February 8, 2011).