The Palisades schoolhouse 1870-1970
For one hundred years, the sounds of children playing and school bells ringing could be heard from the Palisades schoolhouse. Built circa 1870, by Winthrop Sargent Gilman Jr. and Dr. C.R. Agnew on land donated by Abraham Post, the children of Palisades were educated in the two-room schoolhouse until 1936 when the student population outgrew the building and the red brick school was built across the street. From 1936 until 1970, however, it continued to serve an educational purpose. Children walked across the street to the schoolhouse for lunch prepared by the “Hot Mamas.” In the late 1950’s, when the student population eventually outgrew the red brick building, kindergarten was held in the schoolhouse and in the 1960’s both the kindergarten and 6th grade were housed there.
In 1970, when the Tappan Zee Elementary on RT 9W was built, the schoolhouse was closed and given to the Palisades community for $1 by the South Orangetown Central School District. It became the Palisades Community Center (PCC) and has continued to hold a prominent and an important place in our community. In 1971, it was home to the Oak Tree Playgroup (later moving across the street in 1977 to the red brick school) and in 1987 the Blue Rock School (they later moved to their current home in West Nyack).
Governed by a nine-member board and managed solely by volunteers, this building has had lively and eclectic usage over the last forty years, offering educational, social and charitable activities for the Palisades community and beyond.
In 1970, when the Tappan Zee Elementary on RT 9W was built, the schoolhouse was closed and given to the Palisades community for $1 by the South Orangetown Central School District. It became the Palisades Community Center (PCC) and has continued to hold a prominent and an important place in our community. In 1971, it was home to the Oak Tree Playgroup (later moving across the street in 1977 to the red brick school) and in 1987 the Blue Rock School (they later moved to their current home in West Nyack).
Governed by a nine-member board and managed solely by volunteers, this building has had lively and eclectic usage over the last forty years, offering educational, social and charitable activities for the Palisades community and beyond.
