Hyde Park Elementary School
Why it's listed
Built in 1939-40 on Post Road in Hyde Park, this one-story, seven-bay Colonial Revival school has a rectangular main block with flanking north and south wings and a rear wing. The original walls are random-course ashlar fieldstone under a slate gable roof with two broad chimneys. A hip-roofed portico shelters the centered entrance, which has sidelights and an arched fan transom. Brick classroom and gymnasium additions were made in 1957. Inside, a center hall, marbleized tile floors, tiled corridors, original doors and hardware, and period woodwork survive. Architect Ross J. Sluyter designed the school and contractor Walter W. Kingston built it, with the Public Works Administration paying forty-five percent of the cost. Franklin D. Roosevelt met local officials in 1938 about school needs, insisted on local fieldstone, approved the plans and spoke at the 1940 dedication. The school was listed for its architecture and education, as an intact small public school used continuously for its original purpose.
Significance in brief: The school is argued to be an intact, representative example of a small late-1930s public school and of Depression-era public works architecture, using traditional forms and materials tied to the region's Dutch colonial past. It is also significant for its educational function and continuous use, and for its link to Franklin D. Roosevelt, who took a personal part in its construction, including insisting on local fieldstone.
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 93000860, listed September 2, 1993. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Post Rd. N of jct. with Fuller Ln., Hyde Park |
|---|---|
| County | Dutchess County |
| Listed | September 2, 1993 |
| Reference number | 93000860 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1940 |
| Architect / builder | Sluyter, Ross J., Architect; Kingston, Walter W., Contractor |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a school; it has been in continuous use as a school since construction, and 1957 brick additions do not detract from its integrity. |
| Acreage | 6.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.79122, -73.93568 (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 93000860.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5953673
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.