By Connor Adams Sheets
The Poppenhusen Institute in College Point has been a fixture in the community for 143 years.
But even the oldest, most historic structures are often no match for an economic maelstrom, and the institute has fallen on hard times along with much of the rest of the nation.
The situation is becoming critical as the institute’s executive director, Susan Brustmann, estimates that it needs to raise about $40,000 to $50,000 by next June in order to stay open.
“We’re hoping we can stay open. We’re a nonprofit, like so many nonprofits that have been hit very hard by cuts in state funding,” she said. “I don’t like to call it a dire situation. It’s very important to stay positive.”
So Brustmann is being proactive in order to ensure the best chances for the beloved site’s continuing to serve future generations as a museum and living piece of the area’s history. The institute, which is on the National Register and is landmarked by the city, raised $8,000 in July and August, and it has been awarded capital improvement for exterior renovations as well as the installation of elevators and handicapped-accessible bathrooms.
But the issue is bringing in money to pay for programs and operations and to foot the gas, electric and insurance bills.
“The state funds we lost represented about 35 percent of our budget, so we’re coming up with new ways to fund-raise,” she said. “We have three fund-raising events coming up and we’re doing other creative things to try to raise money. We’re writing for a lot of different grants and trying to find new opportunities.”
The events include an Oktoberfest — a first for the site — Oct. 15 in its gardens, which will be reminiscent of the days before Prohibition when College Point was renowned for its numerous beer gardens, Brustmann said.
At night from Oct. 28 through Oct. 30, the house will open its doors for those who enjoy being scared as the Haunted House at Poppenhusen sweeps in for Halloween weekend.
“The institute lends itself to being haunted because when we have kids’ tours now they already sometimes think it’s haunted,” Brustmann said. “It’s not recommended for kids under 8 because it’s going to be scary.”
And on Dec. 3, “A Taste of College Point” will take place at the institute. Featuring food from local restaurants, the event offers a unique opportunity to taste local fare and learn about the institute’s history.
The site has also been marketing its “Grand Hall” as a site for weddings, conferences and other events, and an episode of HBO’s hit show “Boardwalk Empire” was filmed in the old-fashioned space last year.
Located at 114-04 14th Road and built by College Point’s benefactor, Conrad Poppenhusen, the Poppenhusen Institute has housed a bank, library, court room, sheriff’s office, two jail cells still in the building and more in its time, but is best known for opening in 1870 the first free kindergarten in the United States.
Today, the Poppenhusen Institute serves the College Point community by providing a variety of lessons, tours, lectures and rental space.
For more information, send an e-mail to poppenhusen@juno.com or call 718-358-0067.
Reach reporter Connor Adams Sheets by e-mail at csheets@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4538.
