Franklin Delano Roosevelt High School
Also known as: Haviland Middle School
Why it's listed
Built in 1939-40 as Franklin Delano Roosevelt High School and now serving as Haviland Middle School, this large two-story school sits on Haviland Road in Hyde Park. Its load-bearing walls are Hudson River bluestone laid in random range ashlar, chosen to echo the region's masonry tradition. The south facade has a central tetrastyle portico, a three-tiered wooden cupola and tall round-arched windows, in a Colonial Revival design drawing on Georgian and Adam precedents. Inside, the lobby has Corinthian pilasters and the auditorium has a neoclassical proscenium and low dome. Architect Robert R. Graham worked with President Roosevelt, who took a personal interest in public buildings of the Hudson Valley, and with superintending architect Peter Hansell; W. A. Berbusse, Jr. was the builder. The school opened with about 1,145 pupil stations and was dedicated in October 1940 with the President and Eleanor Roosevelt present. It keeps a high degree of integrity despite later brick additions from the 1950s and 1960s.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the school is significant in architecture and education. It is a well-preserved Colonial Revival school designed by Robert R. Graham with President Franklin D. Roosevelt's involvement, reflecting his taste for regional fieldstone vernacular design. It was dedicated in October 1940 with the President and First Lady attending.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 10001125, listed January 7, 2011. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 23 Haviland Rd, Hyde Park |
|---|---|
| County | Dutchess County |
| Listed | January 7, 2011 |
| Reference number | 10001125 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1939-40 |
| Architect / builder | Robert R. Graham, architect; Peter Hansell (spelled Hanssel in the form), superintending architect; W. A. Berbusse, Jr., contractor-builder |
| Architectural style | Late 19th & 20th Century Revivals: Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Education |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a public school (Haviland Middle School), with later additions from about the 1950s and 1965. |
| Acreage | 25.5 |
| Coordinates | 41.77467, -73.90568 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 10001125.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5491459
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.