What a place: 40 Irving Place

As you may have noticed, the next chocolate party will be held at 40 Irving Place. The historic venue is currently Washington Irving High School and started out, in the early 20th century, as Girls’ Technical High School.The school was one of the first to cater to girls focusing on careers and vocations as well as traditional academics.

C.B.J. Snyder designed the eight-story structure with an imposing arched entrance, and added a couple of round-arched Florentine Renaissance windows on the seventh floor. The two-story base is made of limestone and above that is gray brick with terracotta and limestone. They aren’t made like this any more!

The interior of the school is so impressive that it is likely to become a National Landmark! There is a two-story foyer with a mezzanine balcony, and a large skylit auditorium, all designed in Gothic Style. The lobby’s paintings are a history of New York. The central point of the lobby is a grand, decorative fireplace. Above the fireplace are flag-draped statues of women carved from a single piece of white stone.

So that’s the history, now come to see it for yourself!

Comments

[Cheryl Heppard]

It's great to see all the great things Gnosis Chocolate has going on. I wish I was local so I could drop in to see if you have any fig chocolates!