A Quick New Utrecht High School History Primer

In 1908 there was no high school in the New Utrecht neighborhood of Brooklyn. The closest high schools were Manual Training (4th Street and 7th Ave in Park Slope) or Erasmus Hall (Flatbush and Church Avenues in Flatbush).

  1909 –  Erasmus Hall opens an annex in old P.S. 3, 86th Street at 18th was opened in the 1870s, and was decommissioned for a few years. Phone Number: BE 6-0711 (Beachview) Avenue. Students attended for two years and then matriculated into the main building.

  1912 –  A second annex opens in P.S. 104, 59th Street at 5th Avenue. Crowding continues.

  1914 – The new Bay Ridge High School opens, under Dr. Harry A. Potter – Principal. It is decided to make the school “girls only.” A new location is needed for the Boys. The New Utrecht Boys School is started.

  1915 – Marks the start of New Utrecht High School. They take over the old P.S. 3. The first principal is Dr. Irving Hazen. Dr. Hazen is a graduate of Dartmouth, their colors are Green & White, and they are adopted as the NUHS colors.

  1918 – Dr. Potter returns as principal and stays until retirement in 1940.

  1924 – In November the new, New Utrecht High School opens. P.S. 3 closes.

  1926 – NUHS is overcrowded. Space is taken in P.S. 180, in February. 56th Street at 16th Avenue. Phone Number: AM 2-0518 (Ambassador) the “Homewood School.”

  1927 – Another annex is opened in P.S. 105 in February. 59th Street, at 10th Avenue. Phone Number: GE 8-3230 (Gedney). The “Blythebourne School.”

  1928 – In September, once again old P.S. 3 is re-opened as an NUHS annex.

  1930 – An annex opens in March, in P.S. 192 at 18th Avenue. Phone Number:  AM 2-6857.

  1939 – Lafayette High School opens in response to overcrowding at NUHS.

  1940 – Fort Hamilton High School opens in response to overcrowding at NUHS.

1965 – Franklin D. Roosevelt High School opens in response to overcrowding at NUHS.