Photo courtesy of the Bryant Library Local History Collection.
By: Sophia Lian (A Roslyn Landmark Society High School volunteer)
Roslyn-Flower Hill Elementary School was a public school in the Village of Flower Hill that opened on January 12, 1953. The school was part of a plan proposed by Roslyn’s then-superintendent, George Edison Bryant, to construct three new elementary schools in the Roslyn Union Free School District.
The proposal for Flower Hill Neighborhood School was a response to the post-World War II population boom that affected the growth of suburban housing in Flower Hill. Schools needed to be built in the area to meet the demand of new residents.
In contrast to traditional school buildings, Roslyn-Flower Hill Elementary School was a single-story building consisting of five classrooms with a layout designed like a home. The school was one of the first in the area to introduce this type of design method for creating a space that made it easier for young children to transition into a classroom setting.
In September 1980, the school district decided to close the school, even though many parents in the community petitioned against this decision. The district’s enrollment rate had declined by 23% as the baby-boom era slowly came to an end.
Residents attempted to turn the property into a neighborhood park. However, the highest bidder, the N & H Development Corporation, ended up buying the land. After the school was dismantled and the land was partitioned, the Mashady Estates subdivision, which included eight single-family homes, was built. The houses can still be found today where Roslyn-Flower Hill Elementary School once stood, signaled by a sign on the Flower Hill Historic Trail.
Sources:
“Flower Hill Elementary School: Profiles: Roslyn Landmark Society.” Roslyn, December 31, 1969. https://www.roslynlandmarks.org/profiles/roslyn-flower-hill-elementary-scholl..
“Roslyn-Flower Hill Elementary School.” Wikiwand. Accessed February 18, 2024. https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Ro...
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