PAIR OF ACES AT SCHOOL

WHILE C.B.J Snyder may be recognized as New York City’s premier schools architect, Cypress Hills, at the far east end of Brooklyn, has a pair of school buildings designed by Brooklyn’s king of schools architects, James Naughton (1849-1898). Naughton, born in Ireland, immigrated with his parents to the USA at age eight. He showed an early interest in architecture and apprenticed in Milwaukee and attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and later, Cooper Union to study the profession. He later rose to Superintendent of Buildings for the City of Brooklyn from 1874-1876 and then Superintendent of Buildings for the Board of Education of the City of Brooklyn from 1879 till his death, designing each of the school buildings built during those years in Brooklyn himself.

From the Landmarks Preservation Commission report for PS 108, at Arlington Avenue and Linwood Street:

PS 108 was in danger of closing, and possibly demolition, in the 1960s, until a local Cypress Hills resident and alumnus Sal Abbracciamento led a groundswell of support including other graduates, school faculty and local political respresentatives to successfully save the building. The grateful management applied his name to the school.

While PS 65K, Richmond Street south of Ridgewood Avenue, was built in 1870 according to a design by Samuel B. Leonard, its original design was expanded upon with extensions and a new facade by James Naughton, who can take credit for the building’s appearance since 1889. Once again, from the building’s LPC Report:

In May I took a rather extensive walk in Cypress Hills, an area I have visited relatively rarely; I should have a feature page soon: we’ll see…

Check out the ForgottenBook, take a look at the  gift shop. As always, “comment…as you see fit.” I earn a small payment when you click on any ad on the site. 

9/9/25