Drum Hill High School
Also known as: Drum Hill Senior Living Community
Why it's listed
Drum Hill High School sits on a wooded promontory 204 feet above the Hudson River in Peekskill, New York. Designed by architect Edward E. Joralemon, it was built between 1909 and 1911 at a cost of $180,000 plus $15,000 for furnishings. The three-story, E-shaped building of grey-buff pressed brick is Neoclassical in style, with colossal Ionic columns, a rusticated ground story and a granite foundation. Inside, classrooms surround a central atrium with a curving iron staircase and skylights, an arrangement drawn from German school designs. The building was fireproof except for its roof and included science laboratories, manual training areas, a gymnasium and an advanced heating and ventilation system. It was built to meet new state school standards adopted in 1904. Intended for over 1,000 students, it became a junior high school in 1930 and closed by 1972. The nomination records vandalism and neglect, and notes local efforts to find a new public use for the vacant structure.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the school is architecturally significant and reflects Peekskill's long commitment to education. It incorporated innovative European-influenced school features such as an E-shaped plan, an interior light court (atrium), skylights, fireproof construction, a complex heating and ventilation system and a gymnasium. It was praised at its dedication as one of the finest and best-equipped schools in the state.
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 79003797, listed December 31, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Ringgold St., Peekskill |
|---|---|
| County | Westchester County |
| Listed | December 31, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79003797 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | Specific dates: Sept. 13, 1909-Sept. 25, 1911 |
| Architect / builder | Edward E. Joralemon (architect); contractor A. S. Renza began construction but failed to complete it, and a new contractor finished the work |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical |
| Areas of significance | Education |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Marked unoccupied and described as vacant; the school closed by 1972, and the form notes vandalism and neglect, with the city and other groups exploring ways to save it. |
| Acreage | 4.3 |
| Coordinates | 41.28814, -73.92324 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 79003797.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5309057
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.