The Brooklyn Heights Seminary was a private school in Brooklyn, New York.
Early history
The Brooklyn Heights Seminary was founded by Alonzo Gray in 1851.
It was an offshoot of the Brooklyn Female Academy (est. 1845), which eventually became the
Packer Collegiate Institute
The Packer Collegiate Institute is an independent college preparatory school for students from pre-kindergarten through grade 12. Formerly the Brooklyn Female Academy, Packer has been located at 170 Joralemon Street in the historic district of ...
.
The school was originally located at 88 Montague Place, now known as Montague Street, in
Brooklyn Heights
Brooklyn Heights is a residential neighborhood within the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The neighborhood is bounded by Old Fulton Street near the Brooklyn Bridge on the north, Cadman Plaza West on the east, Atlantic Avenue on the south ...
, and later at 138-140 Montague Street.
The original faculty consisted of Professor Gray, Miss Arethusa Hall, and twelve other teachers.
166 pupils enrolled in the school's first year.
The school's "Board of Visitors" included many well-known Brooklynites of the time, including
Henry Ward Beecher
Henry Ward Beecher (June 24, 1813 – March 8, 1887) was an American Congregationalist clergyman, social reformer, and speaker, known for his support of the Abolitionism, abolition of slavery, his emphasis on God's love, and his 1875 adultery ...
.
lectured at the school during its first year.
He also served as temporary principal after Gray passed away in March 1861.
In September 1861, the school was purchased by Dr. Charles E. West, who served as principal until his retirement in 1889.
His assistant principal was
Mary A. Brigham.
Clara B. Colton took over leadership of the school in 1889, in partnership with three other faculty members.
Colton retired in 1903.
Incorporation and later history
Upon Colton's retirement, a committee composed of the school's patrons and the Brooklyn Heights Seminary Club incorporated the school under a Board of Trustees with Teunis G. Bergen as president.
Ellen Yale Stevens was appointed as principal and the former Chittenden mansion at 18 Pierrepont Street was leased to house the school.
In 1906 the Trustees purchased the property, and in 1907 a three-story extension was added with a gymnasium and classrooms.
The extension was named Stanton Hall in memory of Mr. George A. Stanton.
In 1914 Florence Greer was appointed assistant principal.
Greer became principal in 1923 and held the position until her death in 1933.
The school ceased to operate after Greer's death.
Its building was demolished in 1934 to make way for apartment buildings.
Notable people
Alumnae
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Helen Twelvetrees
Helen Marie Twelvetrees ( Jurgens; December 25, 1908 – February 13, 1958) was an American actress. She starred in Hollywood films in the sound film era from 1929 to 1939. Many of her roles were of "suffering women,” which reflected her tumul ...
*
Gertrude Niesen
Gertrude Niesen (July 8, 1911 – March 27, 1975) was an American Torch song, torch singer, actress, comedian, and songwriter who achieved popular success in musical theatre, musicals and films in the 1930s and 1940s.
Early years
Niesen wa ...
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Elisabeth Achelis
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Helen Appleton Read
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Elizabeth W. Greenwood
*
Josephine Perfect Bay
*
Lavinia Goodell
Rhoda Lavinia Goodell (May 2, 1839 – March 31, 1880) was the first woman licensed to practice law in Wisconsin and the first woman admitted to the Supreme Court of Wisconsin. In 1880, she also became the first to litigate (and win) an appe ...
*
Anna Olcott Commelin
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Augusta Lewis Troup
Faculty
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Mary A. Brigham
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Katharine Bement Davis
Katharine Bement Davis (January 15, 1860 – December 10, 1935) was an American Progressive Era social reformer and criminologist who became the first woman to head a major New York City agency when she was appointed Correction Commissioner ...
*
Juliet Greer Bridwell
References
{{coord missing, New York City
Brooklyn Heights
Education in New York City
Demolished buildings and structures in Brooklyn
Buildings and structures demolished in 1934