Wasn’t Brooklyn once just farmland? Now stand before Boys High School a majestic Romanesque Revival building. This impressive structure wasn’t always here. In 1891 it began as the Central Grammar School on Court Street. It quickly outgrew its space. By 1892 over 500 students filled a newly constructed building on Marcy Avenue. This marked a significant turning point. Boys High School became Brooklyn’s first public high school. It offered classical scientific and commercial courses preparing young men for diverse futures.
Think of the young men who walked these halls. They came from all walks of life. Many were the sons of immigrants eager to learn and succeed. The school fostered a competitive environment. Congressman Emanuel Celler a graduate himself described it as “the high school of scholarships”. He remembered the rigorous academics including the popularity of Latin. Even eighty percent of the student body elected to study it.
The building itself is a masterpiece. Its terracotta detailing is exquisite. The round corner tower dormers and campanile are instantly recognizable. It’s no wonder it was landmarked in 1975. The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission hailed it as one of the finest Romanesque Revival buildings in the city. The building even served as a filming location for the television show The Knick.
The legacy of Boys High School extends far beyond its walls. Its alumni list reads like a who’s who of notable figures. Isaac Asimov the renowned science fiction author. Aaron Copland the celebrated composer. Norman Mailer the Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist. These are just a few of the many accomplished individuals who once studied here.
In 1975 Boys High merged with Girls High School. The combined school moved to a new location. However the original building on Marcy Avenue lives on. It stands as a testament to the importance of education. It stands as a symbol of the aspirations and achievements of generations of Brooklyn boys. It reminds us of a time when free secondary education was a new and vital concept. It’s a place where dreams were nurtured and futures shaped. Now walk with me and imagine the stories these stones could tell.