University of Mount Saint Vincent

1861 in Central Park The university was founded in 1847 as the Academy of Mount Saint Vincent, a school for women. It took its name from Saint Vincent de Paul , the 17th-century French priest who worked with the poor and founded the original Sisters of Charity , and from the geographic high point along Fifth Avenue in Manhattan known as McGowan's Pass . [ 4 ] In 1911, the academy became a degree-granting institution and changed its name to the College of Mount Saint Vincent. In 2024, the college was renamed the University of Mount Saint Vincent.

See also: Fonthill Castle and the Administration Building of the College of Mount St. Vincent Fonthill Castle The castle housed the university's library from 1942 to 1968. Fonthill once formed the architectural symbol of the university and housed the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. [ 5 ] Fonthill is currently vacant.

One of the original buildings on site, the Villa (or gardener's cottage) was built of ashlar, sometime prior to 1856 in mid-19th century " bracketed " style. [ 6 ] From 1887 to 1911 the "Stone Cottage" (originally called "Lourdes Villa") housed the St. Aloysius Academy for Boys. Many of the boys attending had sisters who were students at Mt. St. Vincent Academy. [ 7 ] The Villa is the home for several members of Sisters of Charity of New York.

Administration Building, pictured in 1993 Founders Hall (formerly the administration building) was built between 1857 and 1859 and subsequently expanded in 1865, 1883, 1906–1908, and in 1951. The original building is a five-story red brick building on a fieldstone base. It features a six-story square tower topped by a copper lantern and spire. The tower is flanked by five story gabled sections. [ 8 ] The Administration Building was listed on National Registrar of Historic Places in 1980. A fire started in half of Founders Hall in the summer of 2014 and the damage was restored later during the school year.