There is some information in the Rev. William Tieck’s book, “School and School Days in Riverdale – Kingsbridge – Spuyten Duyvil.” Apparently, the original P.S. 24 was closed in 1940 due to low attendance. The Iron Foundry had been shut down in the 20s and this greatly reduced the student population as the foundry workers and their families moved on. The P.S. 24 visitor’s book recorded this last entry, written by the principal of P.S. 7.
Friday, Nov. 29, 1940
P.S. 24 Bronx closes to-day–rather sudden though expected!
Records from 1865 indicate that P.S. 24 & its forerunner in this locality have done an excellent service. Perhaps other school activities may be assigned to P.S. 24–a wonderful building in a historic & beautiful setting. Henry Hudson anchored just across the water; that famous Dutchman who swam the water “in spite of the devil” gave the name to this locality & to this school–“Spuyten Duyvil.”
After a long & useful career the march of time, & the trend of population have combined to close the “school on the hill”–truly a “little red school house.”
Now I know the full meaning of Kilmer’s “The House with nobody in It.”
What can be more desolate & more saddening than an abandoned schoolhouse! Think of the thousands of happy voices, the stamping feet, the busy hum of work!
“Sic transit gloria.” Farewell “24.”
– Joseph T. P. Callahan
The building was built in 1891 without indoor bathrooms (there were separate outhouses for girls and boys) and before school buses. Check out the below article from “School” magazine, written in 1899:
