The historic St. Paul's School, the cornerstone of which was first placed at the site of the school on June 18, 1879, has been the focus of debate since the Village purchased the property in the early 1990s. Residents each have their own vision for how they would like to see the property used. After years of examination and consideration, the Village Board of Trustees decided to lease the main building to CareMatrix, an assisted living corporation, which agreed to restore and maintain the facility. While some were disappointed that the facility would not be used as a community center, some so much so they filed suit against the Village to prevent the lease from taking place -- which is still in the courts, most residents seem to have come to accept the Village's explanation that costs were exorbatant and that leasing the building was the only way to save it.

The most recent point of contention has not been an attempt to stop the lease of the building, rather two residents, who are also both alumni of St. Paul's School, are looking to preserve the chapel within the building, regardless of who will occupy the structure. Edward C. Reuper spoke with Garden City Life to explain his current effort. He says he graduated from St. Paul's in 1945, having entered the school in 1941, and after attending the Merchant Marine Academy and serving at sea as an engineering officer, moved into the home he and his fiancée had purchased in 1951. As an alumnus and longtime resident he has personal sentiments for the historic structure, and says he became concerned when he "heard a rumor that they're going to tear out the chapel in St. Paul's."

Reuper says he heard that the chapel was to become "a causeway or throughway" from the historic building to the new construction that is proposed for the rear of the building. He spoke with fellow alumnus Henry Harder, of the Class of 1973, the "son of a very close friend" of Reuper's, who also lives in the Village where his siblings and parents still maintain residences. The two discussed the history of the building and the significance of the chapel and decided to try to work together to save it.

Reuper stated that he has not seen the chapel itself and wants to"see if we can get someone to look at it and find out if it's worth saving. We'd like to pay someone to inspect it and see if it's worth it to renovate and then go from there." Reuper also stated that he and Harder are seeking to gain the support of fellow alumni and concerned residents to possibly pool their resources to help enable the effort to move forward if it is deemed "saveable." When asked where this effort might lead should they determine the chapel worth saving and the CareMatrix lease goes forward and their proposals to use the space in a corridor fashion begin to become solidified, Reuper responded that he and other "civic minded gentlemen" who do not wish to see the "destruction" of this piece of "a historical building" may go so far as to take the issue to court (much like the current Kenny case), but Reuper was quick to add, "I don't want to rattle any sabres at this time. We don't even know if it's feasible yet."

Village Administrator Robert Schoelle, Jr. explained to Garden City Life that under the propsal that was received from CareMatrix that the plan was to remove the chapel. He stressed that their plans are not set in stone, but he added that the chapel has suffered serious water damage from a leak that had been in the roof. Water had leaked from the roof over the fourth floor, which housed rooms that were residential in nature, just above the chapel, which takes up the second and third floors. The dining facility occupied the first floor under the chapel. Proposals from CareMatrix call for the restructuring of the entire center wing of the building to serve as a connection to the new construction.

The chapel was part of the original construction by James L'Hommedieu and was designed by architect E.H. Harris. It was located in the middle off-branch of the E-shaped structure and was designed to provide seating for 400 people. The total construction of the building, which began in 1879, took four years and went one to become on of the east coast's leading boarding schools/preparatory academies.

The source of concern, according to Reuper, is not only a matter of sentimental attachment and fond memories of times spent in the chapel, but the religious aspects of the room. With this in mind, Garden City Life contacted Rev. Canon F. Anthony Cayless of the Cathedral of the Incarnation to explain if the chapel holds the same religious significance now as it did when owned by the Cathedral. Canon Cayless stated clearly that the chapel was deconsecrated years ago when the Cathedral was no longer using the structure and planning to sell it. He said that the baptismal font has in fact been removed and is now being used by Christ Church and the altar was also removed and is being used by another church in the Diocese. "The chapel could be used for any purpose at all now," Canon Cayless said.

He said that the last time he was in the chapel was in 1992 or 1993 and that even at that time the room was not in mint condition. The ceiling of the room is suspended by beams/cables, as the room was designed to not use column supports, and the room did not seem structurally sound enough for renovation in his opinion. The one part of the room that Canon Cayless commented could be saved and preserved is a stained glass window that depicts the conversion of St. Paul, and is in the style of Tiffany windows, and may well be an actual Tiffany window. He commented that he thought that if the window were still intact that it could likely be removed and located elsewhere, rather than lose a potentially historically significant and artistically beautiful window. He did note that it was part of the sale to the Village and is therefore their's to do with as they see fit.

With the Kenny lawsuit still in the courts, the future of the entire building is still undetermined, although the Village has expressed its hopes to be able to move forward with the lease. Any proposals by CareMatrix for any part of the building are still not solidified and are subject to change. Both Village Administrator Schoelle and Canon Cayless were in agreement, however, that the chapel has been damaged and presents structural challenges that likely make the chapel difficult if not impossible to preserve as it now exists.