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Poppenhusen Institute
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
New York City Landmark No. 0662
Location	114-04 14th Rd., College Point, Queens, New York
Coordinates	40°47′4″N 73°51′12″W / 40.78444°N 73.85333°W / 40.78444; -73.85333
Area	less than one acre
Built	1868
Architect	Mundell & Teckritz
Architectural style	Stern Victorian
NRHP reference No.	77000973
NYCL No.	0662
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	August 18, 1977
Designated NYCL	August 18, 1970

Poppenhusen Institute is a historic building at 114-04 14th Road in College Point, Queens that housed the first free kindergarten in America. In addition, this institute provided the first free evening classes for adults (in America). Currently, the Institute operates as a community cultural center. The institute building is five stories tall and was constructed in a stern Victorian style.

It was added to the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1970 and then added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.

Description and history

It was constructed in 1868 with private funds donated by Conrad Poppenhusen, the benefactor of College Point, New York. 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: this venture remains one of the principal features of College Point. Conrad Poppenhusen's zeal, ability, and civic pride brought unprecedented prosperity to College Point. The Poppenhusen Institute is similar to the Cooper Union Institute in Manhattan: the reason for this is because the so-called "home arts" and the study of machinery were principally taught free to ambitious residents of the North Shore.

The original charter specified that it be open to all, irrespective of race, creed or religion, giving people the opportunity to improve their lives either by preparing them for better jobs or improving their leisure time. The institute was established for vocational training and is also served in the interests of Poppenhusen to provide educational opportunities for industrial workers. This institute was also built with the purpose of teaching English and factory crafts: even though it was still teaching these classes, the English courses have been supplemented or replaced by those in French and Spanish. The reason for this was because certain individuals felt their English was good enough. In addition, there were more sophisticated classes which taught draftsmanship and machine shop techniques for local workers in electronic plants. Along with these classes, the Poppenhusen Institute contained and provided scientific and historical collections, chemical and philosophical apparatus, books, drawings, pictures, statues, and other such means of education and instruction.

The institute housed the Justice of the Peace, the first home of the College Point Savings Bank, German Singing Societies, the first library in the area, a court room, the Sheriff's Office (2 jail cells remain today), as well as the first free kindergarten in the United States which began here on July 1, 1870."

Furthermore, this institute was also established for the protection, care, and custody of infants under the age of five years. The institute, to this day, has survived and is well known as a recognized trade school, enrolling about 400 men and women a year for evening classes.

The Poppenhusen Institute also became the location in which many historical exhibits and artifacts of Queens were displayed. In 1962, around Spring time in May, the first anniversary of the opening of the College Point Historical Room commenced at the institute and included a new exhibit on "Volunteer Fire Fighting Companies at College Point. Conrad Poppenhusen started the Enterprise Engine Company Two in 1861. A group called the smokeeaters later changed the unit's name to Enterprise Hose Company and established headquarters in the barns adjoining the institute's property on 14th road: this occurred after the engine was retired from service in 1875. The exhibit displayed fire equipment used during the 1800s.

Residents

From 1968 to 1985: The Ponce Family lived within Poppenhusen Institute from January 1968 to December 1985. Dominick Ponce updated the electrical wiring and plumbing in the building and was entrusted provide care for the property and oversee it. Dominick Ponce passed away February 14, 2011.

See also

• List of New York City Designated Landmarks in Queens
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Queens County, New York

References

1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
2. ^ McGurn, Barret. "College Point (It Hasn't Any College). The Herald Tribune Staff. 29 DEC. 1963
3. ^ Anonymous. "College Point Forgets To Mark Anniversary of Poppenhusen Memorial". North Shore Daily Journal. 29 DEC. 1934
4. Anonymous. "Poppenhusen Park: 122nd Street and 11th Avenue, College Point". North Shore Daily Journal. 29 DEC. 1934
5. ^ Anonymous. "Town Had 4 Names: College Point Once Part of 320-Acre Stratton Estate." Long Island Sunday Press. 21 JUN. 1936
6. ".::The Poppenhusen Institute: History::". Archived from the original on 2011-10-30. Retrieved 2010-04-12.
7. Daniel P. Brunetto and Raymond W. Smith (July 1976). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: Poppenhusen Institute". New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Retrieved 2011-01-12. See also: "Accompanying three photos".
8. ^ Anonymous. "Poppenhusen Anniversary: Museum Show Will Be Feast for Fire Buffs". Long Island Star Journal. 1 MAY 1962

External links

• Official Poppenhusen Institute Website

v t e National Register of Historic Places in Queens, New York
Historic districts	68th Avenue–64th Place 75th Avenue–61st Street Broadway–Flushing Central Avenue Central Ridgewood Cooper Avenue Row Cornelia–Putnam Cypress Avenue East Cypress Avenue West Douglaston Hill Douglaston Far Rockaway Beach Bungalow Forest–Norman Fresh Pond–Traffic Grove–Linden–St. John's Hunters Point Jackson Heights Jacob Riis Park Madison–Putnam–60th Place Richmond Hill Seneca Avenue East Seneca–Onderdonk–Woodward Stockholm–DeKalb–Hart Summerfield Street Row Sunnyside Gardens Woodbine–Palmetto–Gates
Historic properties	Houses Allen-Beville House John Bowne House Ralph Johnson Bunche House Cornelius Van Wyck House King Manor Kingsland Homestead Lent Homestead and Cemetery Louis Armstrong House Queens County Farm Museum Steinway Mansion Vander Ende–Onderdonk House Voelker Orth Museum Religious buildings Astoria Center of Israel Church of the Resurrection The Church-in-the-Gardens First Presbyterian Church of Far Rockaway First Presbyterian Church of Newtown First Reformed Church Free Synagogue of Flushing Grace Episcopal Church Complex Old Quaker Meeting House Protestant Reformed Dutch Church of Flushing Reformed Church of Newtown Rego Park Jewish Center Saint Benedict Joseph Labre Church St. George's Church St. Luke's Episcopal Church St. Matthew's Episcopal Church St. Matthias Roman Catholic Church St. Monica's Church St. James Church Temple of Israel Synagogue Congregation Tifereth Israel Trinity Chapel Trinity Lutheran Church Post offices Far Rockaway Flushing Forest Hills Jackson Heights Jamaica Long Island City Subway stations Court Square–23rd Street station Elmhurst Avenue station Flushing–Main Street station Other structures Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge Number 878 Beth Olam Cemetery Bohemian Citizens' Benevolent Society College Point Little League Building Flushing Armory Flushing High School Flushing Meadows Carousel Flushing Town Hall Forest Park Carousel Fort Tilden Fort Totten Fort Totten Officers' Club Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning Jamaica Chamber of Commerce Building Jamaica Savings Bank Kaufman Astoria Studios J. Kurtz and Sons Store Building La Casina Long Island City Courthouse Long Island Motor Parkway Maple Grove Cemetery Marine Air Terminal New York State Pavilion Old Town of Flushing Burial Ground Parkway Village Poppenhusen Institute Prospect Cemetery PS 66 Queens County Savings Bank Queensboro Bridge RKO Keith's Theater Rockaway Courthouse Sidewalk clock on Jamaica Avenue Sohmer and Company Piano Factory Spear and Company Factory Triboro Hospital for Tuberculosis TWA Flight Center Wyckoff-Snediker Family Cemetery
National Historic Landmarks	Ralph Johnson Bunche House King Manor Louis Armstrong House Old Quaker Meeting House
See also: National Register of Historic Places listings in Queens, New York and List of National Historic Landmarks in New York

• New York City Designated Landmarks in Queens, New York
• School buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in New York City
• School buildings completed in 1868
• Schools in Queens, New York
• Cultural centers in New York City
• Tourist attractions in Queens, New York
• Education in Queens, New York
• National Register of Historic Places in Queens, New York
• 1868 establishments in New York (state)