I’ve walked past this building in Ossining many times. I like the way it looks and always felt that it would make a nice photograph. Unfortunately, on previous visits car park was always filled with cars, which obstructed the front of the building. The left side was lined with a lot of garbage containers, which didn’t make an attractive photograph. However, on this occasion I was able to find a different angle, which I feel allowed a decent photograph. Not my ideal angle, which would have been looking down the left side of the building, but it will do for now.

As the title of this posts suggests it’s the former Mount Pleasant Military Academy Library, which struck me as odd, because it’s in Ossining, not Mount Pleasant. The wonderful, Village of Ossining Significant Sites and Structures Guide describes it as follows:

Property Name: Mount Pleasant Military Academy Library
Street Address: 23 State Street
Section, Block, and Lot: Section 97.07, Block 3, Lot 86
Architect/Builder: Unknown
Date of Construction: circa 1870
Architectural Style: High Victorian Gothic (1860s-1890s)

High Victorian Gothic architecture, which evolved from the older Gothic Revival style, differs from that style in its use of contrasting polychromatic bands on the exterior wall surfaces and more elaborate decorative elements. This style was usually reserved for public buildings such as schools or churches. As it is related to the Gothic Revival architecture, structures in this style also contain such elements as steeply pitched rooflines, elaborate ornamentation, and a predominantly vertical orientation.

The Mount Pleasant Military Academy Library is one- and one-half stories in height and has a roughly square configuration. All four elevations feature a very similar appearance, with a red brick first floor and an upper floor clad in slate shingles. The dominant feature of each facing is a steeply pitched gable with a large arched window. Three bands of black and yellow brick extend horizontally along each elevation, with small crosses made of black brick featured in the center band. The main entryway facing State Street contains an arched opening with a marble keystone and springers (the stone at the apex and the lowest on each side) along the arch. The arched window on the main façade’s second story features elaborate decorative ironwork connecting the window frame to the roof gable.

Significance: Architectural and Historical

The Mount Pleasant Military Academy Library is architecturally significant as an intact and well preserved example of High Victorian Gothic style architecture utilized in an institutional context. It is also historically significant as the last remaining structure of the Mount Pleasant Military Academy campus, which occupied this site from 1814 until the 1920s.

The Mount Pleasant Military Academy Library, built to serve as the campus repository for the Academy’s 12,000 books, is the last structure still standing from the original school campus. Originally known as the Mount Pleasant Academy at the time of its founding in 1814, this
institution was created to serve as a private college preparatory school for young men of high school age living in the Westchester and lower Hudson Valley region. The school’s establishment was funded by local philanthropists, who also donated the two acre parcel on State Street on which the Academy was sited.

The Academy began operation as a normal day high school in 1820. In 1842, a wing of the school was established for the education of female students, but the arrival of new principal C.F. Maurice in 1845 led to the disbandment of this part of the school in 1846. Maurice, who admired nearby West Point and other military schools, sought to transform the Academy into a military-style boarding school for young men. He remodeled the composition of the student body into a corps of cadets divided into four companies, with each company containing several dozen cadets who were led by a cadre of cadet officers overseen by a faculty containing a mix of civilian academics and retired military officers. This transformation was complete by 1848 and the school’s name was changed to Mount Pleasant Military Academy to reflect the new orientation.

The cadets who attended the school lived on campus and were taught military tactics and drill in addition to their regular studies. A separate wing of the school called Mount Pleasant Hall was established for boys under the age of 13, whom it was hoped would continue their studies within the corps of cadets once they reached the appropriate age. The academy remained in operation until the 1920s, when it ceased operations due to declining enrollments and closed down. Over time, the buildings on the campus were demolished as the site was subdivided and redeveloped for other purposes. The last remaining structure on the campus is the library, which has been adapted for use as a business office while retaining its original appearance.

According to the plaque on the building, it now seems to known as the Doris E. Buffett Building for Higher Education in Prison, which the Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prison describes on its About Page as follows:

Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prison provides college education, life skills, and reentry support to currently and formerly incarcerated people so they can make a positive impact on their own lives, their families, and communities, resulting in lower rates of recidivism and higher rates of employment, community regeneration, cohesiveness, and reciprocity. We provide post-secondary educational opportunities for incarcerated students enrolled in programs at six correctional facilities in the greater New York area.

Partnering with accredited New York State colleges, we deliver quality undergraduate education that is cost-effective. Nationally, over 67% of formerly incarcerated people return to prison within three years of their initial release date. However, less than 2% of Hudson Link graduates return to prison for a new crime within this three-year period. Educating a full-time undergraduate student is estimated to cost $5,000 annually, significantly less than the $60,000 a year it takes to incarcerate a person in New York State.

Taken with a Sony RX10 IV

Located at 224 E 47th St (between 2nd and 3rd), its website describes its history as follows:

Bearing the name of one of the YMCA of Greater New York’s most benevolent families, the Vanderbilt YMCA Branch opened in its current location in 1932 and was then known as the “Railroad YMCA.” Now focused on meeting the needs of nearby residents, office workers, and members of the United Nations community, the branch was originally established in 1875 to provide housing for the nation’s railroad men. One of many “Railroad YMCAs” throughout New York City and across the country, the forerunner of the Vanderbilt YMCA was housed in the basement of the New York Rail Station on the site of today’s Grand Central Terminal. These railroad workers found clean overnight accommodations, affordable meals, and an array of programs to occupy and enrich their time between journeys. The branch and its extensions moved multiple times over the decades, and once occupied sites where today’s Roosevelt and Waldorf-Astoria hotels now stand.

The “Railroad YMCA” was renamed the “Vanderbilt YMCA” in 1972 in recognition of the significant role that railroad magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt, and his heirs played in its history. Today, the Vanderbilt YMCA serves its neighbors in many ways, including through extensive youth programs, a health and wellness facility, guest rooms, and more than 125 different classes per week for adults, seniors, families, teens, children, and tourists. The branch also opened a fully equipped early childhood center in 1990.

I stayed there for a couple of nights way back in 1974. I can’t say I cared for it very much. It’s also associated with a significant period in my life. But, once again I’m not inclined to talk about it here.

Taken with a Sony RX10IV.

As I was walking down Sutton Place, I came across this impressive building. The building seemed to have its own police box! It seemed to me that people of significance must live there.

However, I didn’t know what it was until I was able to get home and do some searching.

Apparently, it’s One Sutton Place South. Wikipedia describes it as follows:

One Sutton Place South is a 14-story, 42-unit cooperative apartment house in the East Midtown neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, overlooking the East River on Sutton Place between 56th and 57th Streets. One Sutton Place South contains the residences of diplomats, titans of industry, and media executives.

The building was designed and completed in 1927 by Rosario Candela and Cross and Cross for the Phipps family.

The building is topped by a penthouse, a 17-room unit that has 5,000 square feet (460 m2) of interior space and 6,000 square feet (560 m2) of terraces that wrap entirely around it; the penthouse was created originally for Amy Phipps as a duplex. When her son, Winston Guest, the polo player and husband of garden columnist C. Z. Guest, took the apartment over, the lower floor was subdivided into three separate apartments, one of which was occupied by designer Bill Blass. The Guests lived on one side of the penthouse and one of their sons, Alexander, lived on the other side for several years. The Guests sold the apartment in 1963 about the time that their daughter, socialite Cornelia Guest, was born. The apartment was then acquired by Janet Annenberg Hooker, the philanthropist who died in late 1997 and was a sister of Walter Annenberg, the communications magnate and art collector. The apartment was put on the market in early 1998.

A portion of the property behind One Sutton Place South was the subject of a dispute between the building’s owners and the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. Like the adjacent park, part of the rear garden at One Sutton Place South is cantilevered over the FDR Drive, a busy expressway at Manhattan’s eastern edge that is not visible from most of Sutton Place. In 1939, city authorities took ownership of the property behind One Sutton Place South by condemnation in connection with the construction of the FDR Drive, then leased it back to the building. The building’s lease for its backyard expired in 1990. The co-op tried unsuccessfully to extend the lease, and later made prospective apartment-buyers review the legal status of the backyard and sign a confidentiality agreement. The question of ownership came to a head in 2003 when the state’s Department of Transportation began rehabilitation of FDR Drive between 54th and 63rd Streets and threatened to tear up the garden to fix the deck. In June 2007, the co-op sued the city in an attempt the keep the land, and on November 1, 2011, the co-op and the city reached an agreement in which the co-op ended its ownership claim to a smaller section of land sitting atop the deck only, with each side contributing $1 million toward the creation of a public park on the disputed portion.

Taken with a Sony RX10 IV.

I was now starting my walk back, first stop “Sutton Place”.

According to CityNeighborhoods.nyc:

Sutton Place is nestled between East 53rd Street and the 59th Street (Queensboro) Bridge, 3rd Avenue and the East River. The neighborhood sports iconic views of midtown and a curious mixture of old, classic New York buildings and new, shimmering high rises.

Nestled along the East River in Manhattan, Sutton Place is a neighborhood known for its elegance, exclusivity, and stunning waterfront views. This upscale enclave is characterized by its tree-lined streets, pre-war buildings, and a tranquil atmosphere that sets it apart from the bustling energy of Midtown Manhattan. Sutton Place is named after Effingham B. Sutton, an early settler and property owner in the area. Over the years, the neighborhood has attracted a mix of affluent residents, including business tycoons, diplomats, and celebrities, drawn to its quiet charm and proximity to amenities. The neighborhood is home to luxurious residential buildings, private townhouses, and upscale co-ops, providing a coveted address for those seeking refined city living. Sutton Place is also known for its lush parks and public spaces, such as Sutton Place Park, where residents can enjoy picturesque views of the river and the iconic Roosevelt Island. With its blend of prestige, serenity, and beautiful surroundings, Sutton Place stands as a coveted residential destination in the heart of Manhattan.

The neighborhood of Sutton Place in Manhattan derives its name from Effingham B. Sutton, a wealthy landowner and businessman who owned property in the area during the late 19th century. The land where Sutton Place now stands was once part of the estate owned by the Astor family, one of New York City’s most prominent families at the time. Effingham B. Sutton, a descendant of the Sutton family, purchased a portion of the Astor estate and developed it into a residential area. The neighborhood gradually took on his name, becoming known as Sutton Place. Today, Sutton Place is renowned for its prestigious addresses, upscale residential buildings, and its reputation as a desirable enclave for affluent residents.

The history of the neighborhood of Sutton Place in Manhattan can be traced back to the 19th century. Originally, the area was part of the larger estate owned by the Astor family, one of New York City’s most prominent families of the time. The land remained relatively undeveloped until Effingham B. Sutton, a wealthy landowner and businessman, purchased a portion of the Astor estate in the late 19th century. Sutton envisioned creating an upscale residential enclave in this prime location along the East River. He developed the area with stately townhouses and elegant buildings, attracting affluent residents seeking a refined and exclusive neighborhood. Over the years, Sutton Place has continued to maintain its reputation as a prestigious address, known for its upscale residential buildings, tranquil atmosphere, and beautiful views of the East River. The neighborhood’s history reflects the vision of Effingham B. Sutton and the transformation of the once rural landscape into a sought-after residential enclave in Manhattan.

Sutton Place, located in Manhattan, is home to several major landmarks and attractions that contribute to its allure and appeal. One prominent landmark is the Sutton Place Park, which runs along the East River and offers stunning panoramic views of the water and the iconic Roosevelt Island. The park provides a serene oasis where residents and visitors can relax, take a leisurely stroll, or enjoy a picnic while soaking in the picturesque surroundings. Another notable attraction in the neighborhood is the River House, an iconic Art Deco building that has been a symbol of elegance and exclusivity since its construction in 1931. With its distinctive architecture and luxurious apartments, the River House has long been associated with the epitome of sophistication and refined living. Additionally, Sutton Place is renowned for its beautiful townhouses and residential buildings, many of which boast architectural splendor and historical significance. These elegant structures contribute to the neighborhood’s charm and appeal, attracting those seeking a blend of prestige, tranquility, and upscale living.

Sutton Place, Manhattan has been home to numerous famous individuals over the years. One notable resident of Sutton Place was actress and humanitarian Audrey Hepburn. She resided in the neighborhood during the height of her career and brought her elegance and charm to the area. The renowned artist Georgia O’Keeffe also called Sutton Place her home, where she created many of her iconic paintings. Another prominent figure associated with the neighborhood is architect Philip Johnson, known for his contributions to modernist architecture. His innovative designs have left a lasting impact on the architectural landscape of Sutton Place. Additionally, the neighborhood has been favored by notable figures from various fields, including business tycoons, politicians, and influential socialites, all adding to the rich tapestry of history and glamour associated with Sutton Place.

The red plaque on the building above read:

Ieoh Ming (I.M.) Pei
April 26, 1917 – May 16, 2019
11 Sutton Place, Manhattan

Ieoh Ming Pei, born in Guangzhou, China to Lian Jun Zhuang and Tsuyee Pei (a key figure in the creation of China’s modern banking system), came to the U.S. to attend MIT, where he received his B. Arch (1940), and met Wellesley student Eileen Loo; they married in 1942. He received an M.Arch (1946) from Harvard. Two years later, developer William Zeckendorf, Sr. invited him to lead his new in-house architectural design team; early projects include Kips Bay Plaza in NYC (1957-62). By 1960, I.M. Pei & Associates was an independent firm. His selection to design the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library was followed by other prestigious commissions, including government and office buildings, hotels, museums, and a concert hall. His works include the National Gallery, East Building, Washington, DC (1968-78); Bank of China Tower, Hong Kong (1982-89); The Grand Louvre, Paris (1983-93), and the Museum of Islamic Art, Doha, Qatar (2003-08). Pei, the consummate architect/diplomat, received the 1979 AIA Gold Medal, the 1983 Pritzker Prize in Architecture, and the 1992 U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom. The family lived here for almost 50 years, until his death in 2019.

I remember that shortly after I started my career with Unicef I visited Sutton Place. The then Executive Director, Henry Labouisse lived there. I took the elevator up and was surprised to find that it opened directly onto the apartment (i.e. not onto a corridor). This was the first time I’d ever seen anything like that.

Taken with a Sony RX10 IV.