Closing Bell: The Rebranding of Polytechnic
The “merger” of NYU and Polytechnic is a done deal and the publicity campaign is underway. The signage popping up around the Metrotech campus make it clear which institution is in the driver’s seat.
The “merger” of NYU and Polytechnic is a done deal and the publicity campaign is underway. The signage popping up around the Metrotech campus make it clear which institution is in the driver’s seat.
“The signage popping up around the Metrotech campus make it clear which institution is in the driver’s seat.” That would be the much, much, much bigger one, right? Oh, big surprise there.
The building, now known as Wunsch Hall, was build as the 2nd Free Congregational Church in 1846. In 1854, it became home of the Bridge Street A.W.M.E. congregation which is the oldest Black congregation in Brooklyn. The Bridge Street A.W.M.E. Church was said to be a stop on the underground railroad. Oral history says that fugituve slaves were hidden in the basement on their way to the docks to catch ships to Canada. The Bridge Street Congregation moved to Bed-Stuy in 1938 and the building was used for a number of uses, including a Baptist church, postcard factory, warehouse, and political meeting hall, until Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn bought it in 1968. They used it as classrooms and the headquarters for ROTC until 1979 when it became the school’s student center. It was completely renovated on the inside in 1995. Today it is NYU-Poly’s admissions office. It is a NYC landmark and on the National Registry of Historic Places.
wow,
i remember admiring this little old church when it was sitting there all by itself. I was told at the time it had been one of Brooklyn’s oldest Black churches.
Since it is a landmark it was not demolished. Instead it was made a part of the campus. cool. I have to go there and see it in person. I think the old church dates from the 1840’s.