THEN

St. Monica’s has served Yorkville’s Catholic community since 1879. Though the late Gothic Revival church on East 79th Street was not completed until 1907, the East 80th Street school opened its doors in 1888 – four years after the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore, a meeting of Catholic bishops, exhorted American parishes to “establish a school by the side of every church.” Designed in an eclectic style by (John) Babcock & (Thomas) McAvoy, this twin towered brick structure has round arched window arcades with keyed surrounds. Planned for as many as 1,600 students, it closed in 1981 and was acquired by the Caedmon School (named for the early English poet), offering a Montessori-based education through fifth grade. Originally clad with rough-textured brownstone, the base has, unfortunately, been stripped clean of most details.