While Niagara Falls and Yosemite National Park may be considered famous landmarks, P.S. 66 in Richmond Hill can now be added to the list.
“Today’s vote on the landmarking of P.S. 66 is an important step towards protecting the rich history of our neighborhoods,” said Councilmember Elizabeth Crowley, who persuaded the New York City Council to collectively vote in favor of the new landmark destination.
P.S. 66 Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, located on 85-11 102nd Street at 85th Road, was built in 1899 when much of Richmond Hill was still farmland. The school was expanded seven years later and was one of three built in hopes of attracting more residents to the area.
Originally consisting of only eight classrooms for first through sixth graders, the school was designed in the Victorian Eclectic style by Harry Chambers, the school building’s superintendent and architect for Jamaica. P.S. 66 is distinguished by a six-story tower that initially housed a bell used to call children from nearby farms and properties to school.
Because of a growth in population, a second three-story building was built to the east of the original school in 1906, and provided more classrooms and an auditorium. In 2003, the school was renamed the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School in commemoration of her dedication to literacy and historic preservation.
“P.S. 66 has been a staple of the Richmond Hill community for over a century,” said Crowley. “Preserving the history of our neighborhoods is key for future generations to build a sense of pride in it.”
Crowley added that she is looking forward to working with her City Council colleagues and the Landmarks Commission to progress in preserving more historical buildings in Queens.
