C. B. J. Snyder

Snyder in his office, c.1900

Charles B. J. Snyder (November 4, 1860 – November 14, 1945) was an American architect, architectural engineer, and mechanical engineer in the field of urban school building design and construction. He is widely recognized[1] for his leadership, innovation, and transformation of school building construction process, design, and quality during his tenure as Superintendent of School Buildings for the New York City Board of Education between 1891 and 1923.

Background

Snyder was born November 4, 1860, in Stillwater, New York. He was the middle of three children born to George I. Snyder (1834-?) (harness maker) and Charity Ann Snyder (née Shonts) (1834–1919).[2] His two siblings, both sisters, were Ella G. Snyder (1857–1876) and Katy Snyder (b. approx 1865).

He completed public schooling in Stillwater, New York. In 1879, he arrived in New York City, and worked four years with builders in preparation for his profession. In 1883, he began the practice of architecture.[3]

Snyder earned two credentials from Cooper Union technical schools: Cooper Union Free Night School of Science, Class C Third-Year: May 28, 1881 Certificate, Practical Geometry (name of record: "Charles Snyder").;[4] and Cooper Union School of Art, May 28, 1884 Certificate, Elementary Architectural Drawing (name of record: "Chas. B.J. Snyder").[5]

From the mid to later 1880s, Snyder worked with William E. Bishop, a New York City master carpenter. Little is known about Bishop.[6] Beginning more than a decade before Snyder's birth, Bishop maintained a lifelong hobby as a volunteer fireman and held a positions of leadership in various firemen companies.[7]

Superintendent of School Buildings

At its last meeting of the school year, July 8, 1891, the New York City Board of Education elected Snyder as Superintendent of Buildings, to succeed George W. Debevoise, who had resigned. Of the thirteen votes cast, Snyder received twelve.[8] It's not clear how Snyder won the support, but he may have had a connection with the banker Robert Maclay, head of the Board of Education's Building Committee. Snyder named his younger son "Robert Maclay". From the time of his appointment until the consolidation of the City of Greater New York in 1898, Snyder oversaw Manhattan and The Bronx.

On January 1, 1898, The City of New York consolidated with the City of Brooklyn, the County of New York (which then included parts of The Bronx), the County of Richmond, and the western portion of the County of Queens.[9] After the consolidation, Snyder retained his position as Superintendent of School Buildings for the NYC BoE.

School design innovations

Snyder saw school buildings as civic monuments for a better society. He was concerned with health and safety issues in public schools and focused on fire protection, ventilation, lighting, and classroom size. Snyder used terra cotta blocks in floor construction to improve fireproofing, and large and numerous windows to allow more light and air into the classrooms.[10] He also developed new methods for mechanical air circulation in school buildings.[11] The problem of school design in New York was compounded by the relatively constricted sites which were necessitated by the high cost of land acquisition.

In 1896 Snyder began designing his first "H-plan," which provided two side courts. Snyder's H-plan improved the overall environmental quality by, among other things, allowing generous light and fresh air into classrooms. And, it featured a grand courtyard entrance.[6] It also provided areas between the wings that were safe for recreation.

Retirement

In 1922, Snyder began openly exploring retirement. He said that he hadn't had a vacation in 18 years and was tired and completely worn-out and that it was time to go fishing.[16] On July 1, 1923, Snyder officially retired. He was succeeded by another noted school architect Snyder helped train: William H. Gompert.

Notable architecture

Note: Schools are listed by their original designation.

As Superintendent, Snyder is credited with the design of over 400 structural projects including more than 140 elementary schools.[17] Snyder worked in several styles, including Beaux Arts, English Collegiate Gothic, Jacobean, and Dutch Colonial. He preferred mid-block locations away from busy and polluted avenues. One of his signature motifs was to design spaces for learning that would offer a respite from noisy streets and poverty.[18]

PS 27, The Bronx
Postcard featuring the 15th Street facade of Snyder's Stuyvesant High School building
Original blueprint of Erasmus Hall at the Williamsburg Art & Historical Center
Haaren Hall in 2008
Newtown High School

Elementary schools

The Bronx

Brooklyn

Manhattan

Queens

Staten Island

High schools

The Bronx

Brooklyn

Manhattan

Queens

Staten Island

Structural additions

Brooklyn

Manhattan

Staten Island

Demolished structures

The Bronx

Manhattan

Professional affiliations

Snyder joined the American Society of Heating and Ventilating Engineers in 1895, served on its Board of Governors from 1900 to 1904, and was elected President in 1907.[52] He joined the American Institute of Architects in 1901 and was elevated to Fellow in 1905.[53]

Family and personal life

There is no known record indicating what his two middle initials stand for.

Snyder married Harriet Katharine (or Katherine) de Vries on September 11, 1889, at the home of the bride's parents in Jersey City Heights.[54][55] (b. Nov. 30, 1862 - d. May 25, 1927, Brooklyn). They had two sons, Howard Halsey Snyder (b. Oct. 15, 1890, New Rochelle - d. Mar. 1970, Babylon, NY) and Robert Maclay Snyder (b. September 6, 1894, New Rochelle - d. 1945).

Snyder was a member of the Kane Lodge No. 454, Free and Accepted Masons (New York City); the Jerusalem Chapter, No. 8, Royal Arch Masons (New York City),;[3] Order of Harugari, Martha Lodge No. 1,830 of Union Hill, New Jersey;[56] and the Royal Arcanum Huguenot Council, No. 397 (New Rochelle).[57]

Snyder died November 14, 1945, with his son, Robert, when they were overcome with natural gas poisoning, or carbon monoxide, or both, in their cottage in Babylon, New York. Apparently, upon retiring for the evening, the Snyders had lit the burners on the range oven to heat the rooms; but during the night the flame had been extinguished, possibly by a draft.[52] The elder Snyder was 85, the son was 51. They both are buried in a family plot in Woodlawn Cemetery, The Bronx.

Publications and presentations

See also

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 "Designation List 280, (Former) Stuyvesant High School" (PDF). New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. May 20, 1997. Retrieved April 20, 2008.
  2. 1870 US Federal Census, Saratoga Springs, New York
  3. 1 2 Van Pelt, Daniel (c. 1898). Leslie's History of the Greater New York III. Arkell Publishing Company. p. 543.
  4. The Twenty-Second Annual Report of the Trustees of the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art. Archives, Cooper Union Library (New York: M. Lowry & Co. Stationers and Printers). May 28, 1881.
  5. The Twenty-Fifth Annual Report of the Trustees of the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art. Archives, Cooper Union Library (New York: Trow's Printing and Bookbinding Co.). May 28, 1884.
  6. 1 2 Gray, Christopher (November 21, 1999). "Streetscapes/Charles B. J. Snyder; Architect Who Taught a Lesson in School Design". The New York Times. Retrieved March 17, 2008.
  7. Kernan, J. Frank "Florry" (1885). Reminiscences of the Old Fire Laddies and Volunteer Fire Departments of New York and Brooklyn. Michael Crane.
  8. "C.B.J. Snyder Chosen Superintendent of School Buildings". The New York Times. July 9, 1891.
  9. "The 100 Year Anniversary of the Consolidation of the 5 Boroughs into New York City". New York City. Archived from the original on October 11, 2007. Retrieved June 29, 2007.
  10. 1 2 Snyder, C.B.J. (1905). W.H. Roberts, ed. Proceedings of the Municipal Engineers of the City of New York, 1904. Municipal Engineers of the City of New York.
  11. "Designation List 377, PS 64" (PDF). New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. June 20, 2006. Retrieved April 20, 2008.
  12. Traveling with his wife, Snyder returned, departing from Southampton, England, arriving in New York November 28, 1896, aboard the St. Paul, New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957.
  13. The BOE granted Snyder a six-week vacation with full pay. Journal of the Board of Education , 1069 (1899).
  14. Gray, Christopher (November 21, 1999). "Streetscapes/Charles B. J. Snyder; Architect Who Taught a Lesson in School Design". The New York Times.
  15. "Designation List 348, Erasmus Hall High School (pg 5)" (PDF). New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. June 24, 2003. Retrieved April 20, 2008.
  16. "Supt. Snyder Asks to Quit School Job". The New York Times. May 4, 1922.
  17. "Designation List 377, (Former) Public School 64, pg.5" (PDF). New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. Retrieved April 20, 2008.
  18. Roane, Kit R. (September 14, 1999). "These Grand Old Schools Nurtured a City; Some Say It Is Time To Tear Them Down". The New York Times.
  19. "National Register of Historic Places - NEW YORK (NY), Bronx County". January 26, 2006. Retrieved April 20, 2008.
  20. "Designation List 266, Public School 27" (PDF). New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. January 19, 1995.
  21. "Designation List 185, Public School 31" (PDF). New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. July 15, 1986.
  22. Official Website of PS 132
  23. Playground on a Roof, The Repository, Sept 15, 1896, pg. 12, Canton, Ohio
  24. "Grammar School No. 9 Designation Report" (PDF). New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  25. "Designation List 377, (Former) Public School 64" (PDF). New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. Retrieved April 20, 2008.
  26. "Designation List 162, High School of the Performing Arts" (PDF). New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. December 21, 1982. Retrieved April 20, 2008.
  27. "National Register of Historic Places - NEW YORK (NY), New York County". January 26, 2006. Retrieved April 20, 2008.
  28. "El Barrio’s Artspace PS109: An Artspace Project for East Harlem"
  29. "National Register of Historic Places - NEW YORK (NY), New York County". January 26, 2006. Retrieved April 20, 2008.
  30. Mott Hall II - Homepage
  31. http://psms165.org/
  32. "Designation List 316, (Former) Public School 166" (PDF). New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. Retrieved June 27, 2000. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  33. "Public School 171 Manhattan". Nelligan White Architects. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  34. "Recommendations" (PDF). Community Board 9 Manhattan 197-a Plan. September 24, 2007. Retrieved September 2, 2008.
  35. New York County Deed Records viewable online via ACRIS
  36. Fertig, Beth (June 17, 2005). "Teens Want to Give Harlem School a New Life". WNYC.com. Retrieved September 2, 2008.
  37. Foster, Mariko (April 27, 2004). "Public School 186: Conflicting Visions". New York: Columbia Daily Spectator. Archived from the original on June 12, 2011. Retrieved September 2, 2008.
  38. "National Register of Historic Places - NEW YORK (NY), Queens County". January 26, 2006. Retrieved April 20, 2008.
  39. "Designation List 297, Public School 28" (PDF). New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. September 15, 1998. Retrieved April 20, 2008.
  40. "Designation List 162, Morris High School" (PDF). New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. December 21, 1982. Retrieved April 20, 2008.
  41. "Designation List 348, Erasmus Hall High School" (PDF). New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. June 24, 2003. Retrieved April 20, 2008.
  42. "Proposed Historic District Extension study". Gramercy Neighborhood Associates, Inc. August 31, 1998. Retrieved March 1, 2010.
  43. Liu, Nina (August 29, 2007). "Washington Irving High School". Gramercy Area Historic Preservation Study. Gramercy Neighborhood Associates. Retrieved July 21, 2009.
  44. Nash, Eric P. (December 16, 2001). "F.Y.I". The New York Times. Retrieved September 2, 2008.
  45. "To Open De Witt Clinton High School Bids" (PDF). The New York Times. May 10, 1903. Retrieved September 2, 2008.
  46. "Designation List 260, Wadleigh High School for Girls/ (now) Wadleigh School" (PDF). New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. July 26, 1994. Retrieved April 20, 2008.
  47. "Designation List 348, Newtown High School" (PDF). New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. June 24, 2003. Retrieved April 20, 2008.
  48. "Designation List 231, Flushing High School" (PDF). New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. January 8, 1991. Retrieved April 20, 2008.
  49. "National Register of Historic Places - NEW YORK (NY), Queens County". January 26, 2006. Retrieved April 20, 2008.
  50. "Designation List 160, Curtis High School" (PDF). New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. October 12, 1982. Retrieved April 20, 2008.
  51. "Designation List 273, Public School 72" (PDF). New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. June 25, 1996. Retrieved April 20, 2008.
  52. 1 2 "Past President C. B. J. Snyder Dies in Babylon, L.I". Heating, Piping & Air Conditioning. December 1945.
  53. American Institute of Architects Archives, Membership Files.
  54. "Snyder – De Vries". The New York Times. September 12, 1889.
  55. Marriage Return, State of New Jersey, Hudson County
  56. "Order of Harugari", The Evening Journal November 20, 1897; p. 9, col. 3
  57. "Royal Arcanum". Retrieved August 5, 2008.

Further reading

External links

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