Lodge & Howard Street Campus

In April of 1848 Governor John Young approved the building of a permanent home for the New York State Normal School on the northwest corner of Lodge and Howard Streets. The City of Albany donated the old fire house located on the corner. The State appropriated $15,000 for building construction. The following year another $10,000 was appropriated to complete the building and a further $3,500 for furnishings. George J. Penchard of the Albany firm of Perkins & Penchard was the architect. The main entrance of the building faced Lodge Street. The School's Executive Committee boasted that the building’s corner location allowed for a front entrance for the female students and a side, Howard Street entrance for the male students. Male and female students were not supposed to meet outside of class. Note the women gathered at the front entrance (Lodge Street) and the men gathered at the side entrance (Howard Street) in this 1850 print of the new building by Richard H. Pease. In addition to classroom space, the Lodge & Howard Street Building contained an apartment for the Normal School principal. The completed building was occupied by the School from July 31, 1849 through 1885. The building was never really adequate to the needs of the school, the third floor assembly room partially collapsing in 1851. By 1883, under President Edward P. Waterbury, New York State committed funds to build a new and grander Normal School building on Willett Street. The Lodge & Howard Street Building was demolished in 1949.