Morris High School Historic District
Why it's listed
Morris High School Historic District is a compact part of the south Bronx made up of a major public school, a Victorian Gothic church and two streets of brick rowhouses. Most of the two- and three-story houses were built between 1900 and 1904 from designs by Warren C. Dickerson, John H. Lavelle and Harry T. Howell. They share buff brick, limestone trim and galvanized metal cornices, with bays, stepped gables and elaborate ironwork adding variety. Morris High School, completed in 1904 to designs by C.B.J. Snyder, is a Collegiate Gothic building with a central tower. It was one of five such high schools built across the city's boroughs after the school system was consolidated in 1898. Trinity Episcopal Church of Morrisania, begun in 1874, is the oldest building and later gained a rectory and parish hall. Surrounding blocks have been heavily altered, so this group stands out for its unity of scale, style and survival.
Significance in brief: The district is a rare surviving group of intact, Free Classical style turn-of-the-century rowhouses in the South Bronx. It also contains a Victorian Gothic church and the Collegiate Gothic Morris High School, which many consider C.B.J. Snyder's masterpiece. The school and the northward extension of the subway spurred residential development of the area.
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 83001641, listed September 15, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Roughly bounded by Boston Rd., Jackson and Forrest Aves., and E. 166th and Home Sts., New York |
|---|---|
| County | The Bronx |
| Listed | September 15, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83001641 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1874-1904 |
| Architect / builder | Various; C.B.J. Snyder (Morris High School); Warren C. Dickerson, John H. Lavelle and Harry T. Howell (rowhouses) |
| Architectural style | Free Classical rowhouses; Collegiate Gothic school; Victorian Gothic church |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is marked deteriorated and altered. The form says very few houses have been altered, and some are vacant with sealed doors and windows. The school and church are described as in place with some alterations and additions. |
| Acreage | 8 |
| Coordinates | 40.82774, -73.90350 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 83001641.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6913737
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.