Landmark Status Granted to Former Segregated School in New York City

Extensive repairs will be required for the building located at 128 West 17th Street due to significant water damage. (Credit: Clark Hodgin / New York Times)

By: Adonis Armstrong

Throughout New York City, remnants of history can be discovered, with traces of the past scattered across the city. On May 23rd, the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission reached a unanimous decision to eternally enshrine a particular building in the archives of history. They decided to protect a school constructed for Black children during the era of slavery, recognizing its profound historical importance as a significant landmark.

As reported by The New York Times, the construction of Colored School No. 4 took place in 1849. By 1860, it had evolved into one of Manhattan's eight public primary schools dedicated to the education of Black students. This Chelsea-based establishment remained exclusively committed to serving Black children until 1894 when the city decided to close segregated public educational institutions.

The attempt to secure landmark status for the venerable structure traces its roots back several years. As early as 2018, historian Eric K. Washington advocated for the city's acknowledgement of its historical importance, but was unsuccessful. However, following a successful petition organized last year, the city could no longer disregard the building's undeniable place in history.

“We stand on the shoulders of the young men and women that attended this school, and while they may be gone, I am honored to ensure they will never be forgotten,” According to The New York Times, Mayor Eric Adams expressed in a statement. To revive the yellow-brick building to its former richness, the city has allocated a generous funding of $6 million, as reported. The restoration project is anticipated to reach its completion by 2027.

Colored School No. 4 is not the sole former segregated institution to receive landmark designation throughout the five boroughs. For instance, Colored School No. 3 in Brooklyn has held this distinction since 1998. By extending a similar honor to the Manhattan building, “the importance of preserving the sites that tell the complete, sometimes challenging, story of our city,” As stated by Sarah Carroll, the chair of the Landmarks Preservation Commission. The group holds the belief that it symbolizes "a difficult, and often overlooked, period in our city’s history" and should be regarded as such.

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