The Council of Independent Colleges: Historic Campus Architecture Project

Leland Castle

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Leland Castle (front facade), College of New Rochelle

Leland Castle (detail, tower), College of New Rochelle

Leland Castle (entrance), College of New Rochelle

Institution Name: College of New Rochelle
Original/Historic Place Name: Simeon Leland Summer Home
Location on Campus: Castle Pl.
Date(s) of Construction:

1855	original construction Beers, W. T.
1899	south wing added
1902	north wing added
1973	renovation

Designer: W. T. Beers
Type of Place: Individual building
Style: Gothic revival (Glossary)
Significance: architecture, education, religion
Narrative: see below
References: see below

Materials:

Foundation: stone

Walls:

Roof: slate

Function:

1855-1897	private residence (summer home)
1904-1973	other (convent)
1973-present (2006)	other (parlors for receptions)
1973-present (2006)	museum (gallery space)
1973-present (2006)	faculty offices

Narrative:
In 1896, the college's founder Mother Irene Gill, traveled to New Rochelle to explore the possibility of establishing a seminary there for young women. She spoke with the Rev. Thomas McLoughlin, pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church and friend of Father O'Farrell, about her plans and learned from him that a wonderful potential site, Leland Castle, might be available for purchase. This 1850s gothic revival structure the vacation home of wealthy New York hotelier Simeon Leland built in the 1850s seemed ideal. The sale was delayed, however, and not until the summer of 1897 did the Ursulines move into their new home on Castle Place. In September 1897, ten boarders and sixty day students of the Ursuline Seminary for Girls joined them behind the heavy doors decorated with the lion heads. This enterprise marked the beginning of what is now The Ursuline School on North Avenue, for many years an intrinsic part of the College with facilities in or near the Castle. The Castle, which was renovated in 1973, is part of the campus quadrangle.

References:

Leland Castle [College of New Rochelle]. National Register of Historic Places designation report. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of the Interior/National Park Service, 1976.