COLLEGE HILL AN ACCOUNT OF POUGHKEEPSIE COLLEGIATE SCHOOL WITH NOTES ON COLLEGE HILL PARK When I came to live in Poughkeepsie fifty years ago, the one object that interested me more than any other was the fine old Grecian temple that stood on the top of College Hill, a magnificent building surrounded on all four sides with its broad porches and stately Doric columns. 1AThat was it? And, why Was it there? What was its history? As I learned this, piece by piece, my interest increased and when on the morning of February 11, 1917, it was announced that it had burned to the ground, I doubt if anyone felt its loss more than I. In the 1830's an association of leading citizens, calling themselves the Improvement Party, had interested themselves in founding a first class collegiate school. They began casting about to find the right man to become its manager, and they found him. Charles Bartlett, who had made his reputation in Utica, New York, where he had been principal of a very successful school of this character and which had been burned out, had come to Dutchess County and was about to interest himself at Fishkill. He was invited by the Improvement Party to come to Poughkeepsie and he approved their plans. After visiting various sites he was taken to the top of what was then known as McKeen's Hill*. He is said to have exclaimed at once, "This is the very spot!" When shown the plans for a school building, which was to be a replica of the Parthenon, (a Grecian temple dedicated to Athene, the Goddess of Wisdom in Greek mythology, which was situated on the Acropolis*, overlooking the city of Athens), he wAs asked if he would take charge of a school if they would erect such a building on this spot, and he replied at once: "Yes, if I can arrage the inside plans." This was assented to and the work was immediately begun. The members of the Improvement Association *Levi McKeen, a prominent citizen of the village of Poughkeepsie, Postmaster from 1802 to 1819, lived north of Main Street on what has since been called Cottage Hill. The lane leading to his house and garden gate is said to have given the name to Garden Street. For some years he lived on Oakley Street where he had a farm which included McKeen's Hill, since known as College Hill. *Acropolis was not simply a name given to this particular eminence in Athens but a term applied by the Greeks to any high point giving a commanding view. Our College Hill may properly be called the Acropolis of Poughkeepsie. 100