Architecture

Significance Statement

Landis School is a typical example of Gothic Revival architecture in school house design popular during the early twenties. The firm of Guilbert and Betelle, architects of Landis School, were prolific designers of schools and architectural buildings throughout the East. James Betelle specialized in adapting diverse styles to create a new American style of school architecture.

Examples of their work, from one room grade schools to large high schools, can be found throughout the eastern section of the country.

Vineland's need for a new, larger high school reflected the growth of the city's population. The selection of Mr. Betelle as architect was an expression of the school board's desire to leave a legacy of excellence in education to the future generations of Vineland's youth.

Located on Landis Avenue in Vineland, Landis School is a South Jersey landmark. In its heyday, it stood as the predominant western architectural anchor to Landis Avenue, the main business street in Vineland. The eastern anchor of Landis Avenue was a complex of institutional buildings, several of which were designed by Guilbert and Betelle, the prestigious Newark firm that designed Landis School in the early 19OO's. The two sites generally defined the more developed "main street" of Vineland which was surrounded by farmland and residential properties.

This building succeeded the original Vineland High School which was established in 1870 with two teachers and ninety pupils. The need for a larger high school reflects the growth of Vineland's population since its founding in 1861.

In 1910, the architect of Landis School, James Oscar Betelle, formed a partnership with Ernest F. Guilbert. This firm evolved the Gothic style as applied to school buildings. This architectural style demonstrates the influence of Walter Cope and John Stewardson, an early twentieth century Philadelphia firm and former employer of J. O. Betelle.

Interpretations of the Jacobean and Gothic styles became fused in popular references as "Collegiate Gothic". Adapting the European cloister concepts to more American circumstances, all included tower entrances to scholastic precincts. Blair Hall at Princeton, designed by Cope and Stewardson in 1897, is one of the first Collegiate Gothic buildings in America.

After Mr. Guilbert's death in 1916, J.O. Betelle became the owner of the firm. He set its policies, controlled its business, obtained the work and managed the entire organization. He was architect for hundreds of schools in five different states and a consultant on many more. Two of these schools, Greenwich High School in Connecticut and the Radburn School in New Jersey are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Included in the firm's work, his organization was architect for such buildings as the Hall of Records, Newark, New Jersey, Hotels Robert Treat and Alexander Hamilton, Chamber of Commerce Building, Essex Club and a half dozen banks, also in Newark, New Jersey.

From 1917 to 1925, Mr. Betelle lectured on school architecture at Teachers College, Columbia University. He wrote many articles in architectural and educational journals about school buildings and construction. Mr. Betelle specialized in the construction of a new type of American school. He incorporated diverse styles to create a more nearly American style of school architecture. Whichever influence he adopted, Mr. Betelle believed that, above all, a school building should look like a school and should be a "truthful expression" of the purpose of the building.

Exterior style was carefully chosen to blend and harmonize with surroundings. Modified Collegiate Gothic was favored by J. O. Betelle for reasons of scholastic character and other practical points that recommended it for use in a large city school like Landis School. In the Collegiate Gothic style, windows could be as high and wide as needed with a relatively small proportion of wall surface. Also, windows could be arranged irregularly without detracting from the general appearance. Collegiate Gothic was selected for economical reasons as well.

The growing tendency towards a broader use of schools by the community presented architects of the twenties with new challenges in planning and design of multipurpose buildings. Mr. Betelle's influence in this area was nationally recognized. The Landis School auditorium is an example of this trend. Publicly accessible with entrances sealed off from classrooms, it is still frequently in use for civic events and valued for its superior acoustics. The gymnasium is similarly accessible.

Other architectural innovations of this era that are still enjoyed by Landis School's population include a large, secluded reference library, science laboratories with adjoining lecture rooms, an attached greenhouse and a separate faculty dining room. At its dedication in 1927, Gov. A. Harry Moore praised the new school as the last word in modern construction. It was ranked in appearance, equipment and lay-out as the "best in the state". The new high school was considered a "monument to farsightedness" and the city "fortunate to have people who see tomorrow as well as today".

Since its dedication, the building has continuously served the educational needs of three generations of Vinelanders. Many of the first graduates of Landis School came from families of European immigrants settling in Vineland in large numbers during this period and were the first in their families to finish high school. This was a source of great pride and has since inspired many visits to the school by alumni of all ages. The quaint schoolhouse charm serves as a valuable and enduring history lesson for today's generation of young scholars.

Strong community pride in this building led to the establishment of the Landis School Historical Committee. With an announcement voiced in the local newspaper, memorabilia was donated and an archives was created. Housed in the school library, this archives contains artifacts, scrapbooks and a nearly complete set of yearbooks from 1927 to present. Additionally, a Principal's Hall was arranged and portraits of all six principals hang just inside the main entrance.

Architectural Description

Landis School, located at 61 West Landis Avenue, is a regional example of late English Gothic Revival architecture. The brick and stone building was designed by J.O. Betelle, a founding partner in the firm of Guilbert and Betelle. Landis School has served as an educational facility since its dedication in 1927. The facility currently houses a middle school and is called the Landis School, named after Charles K. Landis, Vineland's founder.

The north, front elevation of the Landis School is a long, gabled, brick and stone facade articulated by one high, central bay and two symmetrical end bays. The central bay is an asymmetrical frontispiece which houses the main entrance.

In plan, the building is "T"-shaped with the top of the "T" being the long, main facade. Side entrances are found at either end of the "T". The leg of the "T" contains the auditorium and gymnasium.

The main body of the front facade has a raised main floor, a second floor and a gabled slate roof with copper flashing. The basement floor is a half level below grade with windows partially enclosed by window wells to provide light for the cafeteria and classrooms located there.

The asymmetrical frontispiece projects forward and is the most richly ornamented portion of the building. The center part of the frontispiece is a square, castellated clock tower which houses the main entrance and rises well above the adjacent roof peak. The right side of the frontispiece is an octagonal turret capped by a bell tower which is the highest point of the building. The left side of the frontispiece contains a secondary entrance in the arch of a buttress.

The limestone base of the buttress and turret extends upward as stone quoining. Granite steps lead to a carved stone arch which houses the entrance doors, transom and sidelights. Stone pinnacles supported by gargoyles flank the arch. Above the arch is a carved panel bearing the inscription of the building's current name.

Centered above the main entrance, the second and third floor windows are joined by a stone surround which features carved mullions, quoining, arches and panels with coats of arms. The clock above is set in a nearly square stone surround resting on its point. Gargoyles (shown right) adorn each corner of the clock.

Above the clock the tower and turret are encompassed by a prominent limestone cornice which features alternating rosettes and gargoyles. At three corners of the clock tower, gargoyles project outward diagonally. The parapet of the clock tower has a castellated stone coping. Above this coping and to the right, the bell tower of the turret features stone Gothic tracery, capped by a string course with

gargoyles and surmounted by a castellated stone parapet.

On either side of the frontispiece six regular bays of windows make up the body of the building. On the entire front facade and side entrances, window groupings have a limestone surround with quoinling. Identical projecting gables anchor the ends of the facade.

The structure has a projected brick base which is capped at the first floor level by a stone string course. At the second floor level is another stone string course. The building has a Flemish bond brick pattern throughout.

The attic level has a flush gable end, located two bays from the frontispiece, one on either side. Two chimneys with stone string courses, recessed brick panels, open brick arches, and brick corbelling are located between the third and fourth bays.

The east and west side entrances are centered on the ends of the "T". These symmetrical side elevations are composed of steps leading to an entrance vestibule, a projecting gable which houses the stairwell and a bay of windows to either side. The one-story vestibule has a carved stone arch housing the entrance doors, a string course and castellated stone parapet.

The south or rear facade has projected gable ends on the east and west ends, which are a continuation of the same form of the front facade. A greenhouse is supported by a projected rectangular bay on the west end while the east end has no windows. Much of the ornament featured on the main body of the front facade extends to these projected gables and then ends.

The rest of the building does not have basement windows and wells, stone string courses or stone window surrounds. A brick soldier course is featured above window groupings. The leg of the "T" (auditorium and gymnasium) features more ornate brickwork such as a brick dentilated cornice. The south facade of the gymnasium has a projected brick base, brick string course and pilaster with a stone cap.

The exterior of the Landis School remains largely intact and free from permanent revisions to the original building with the exception of the windows. Replacement windows are single hung sash of vinyl and plexiglass. The divided lights reflect the original proportions shown on the architect's drawing, but blank top panels have been added where ceilings were dropped. The replacement windows are clouded and are in many cases inoperable. Original windows still exist in the greenhouse. The main entrance doors remain intact but the side entry doors have been replaced with hollow metal and glass doors.

Interior

The building is entered through the original paired entry doors into the main entrance vestibule which houses the main stair. A second set of doors leads to the main lobby which serves the auditorium and connects the classroom corridors to either side.

The entrance vestibule's walls are buff brick with decorative panels. Oak railing, plaster ceiling, electrical fixtures, and artwork remain intact in the vestibule.

Directly ahead of the entry vestibule and lobby are three paired doors leading to the auditorium. The doors are set in splayed wood panel surrounds. Brick wainscoting extends to the top of the door trim. The gymnasium is beyond and is accessed from the lobby by corridors on either side of the auditorium.

The auditorium features an intricately carved proscenium arch, original sculpture and a wood wainscotting composed of wide boards and a cap rail. Wainscotting extends to the top of the door trim on the walls and forms the front of the balcony and stage front. High windows with splayed sills on both sidewalls provide natural light.

The gymnasium has buff brick walls and exposed metal trusses. Large south windows and smaller side windows light the space. The large volumes of the auditorium and gymnasium are flanked on the east and west sides by one-story spaces which house bathroom and locker facilities.

The classroom corridor is double loaded with lockers set into the walls. High interior transom windows with splayed jambs allow light to enter the hall from the classrooms. At either end of the hall are doors and transoms enclosing the stairwells and side entrances.

The original blackboards and wood floors remain although some areas have been carpeted. A library is located on the northwest side of the first floor containing the original bookshelves, woodwork and glass and the wood partitions.

The small vestibule at grade to the left of the main doors features a wood plank ceiling and serves a central stairwell. The octagonal base of the turret to the other side of the main doors serves as a ticket booth.

The classroom plan is repeated on the second floor level. The second floor lobby serves the auditorium balcony. The greenhouse at the southwest corner has the original doors and transom between the science classroom and greenhouse. The greenhouse is intact although in need of repair.

The third floor in the clock tower is reached by its own stair which also provides access to the attic, roof and mechanical spaces. A fourth floor clock room is accessed by ladder.

The portions of the interior which were ornamented, the main vestibule and auditorium, are largely intact. Acoustic tile drop ceilings were added to classrooms and the auditorium. Although some of the original five-panel interior doors are in place, many have been replaced with flush doors.

In March 1991, Vineland High School was chosen to become a member of the Cumberland County Register of Historic Structures and Sites.

Architectural Description by Fran Read, AIA

Photos by Craig Terry

Major Bibliographical References

Betelle, James O. Architectural Styles as Applied to School Buildings. Milwaukee. Reprinted from the American School Boards Journal. No date, 17p. illustrations.

Haddon, Rawson W. "Guilbert and Betelle, Architects - Modern American Schoolhouses." Architectural Record. Vol. 36, September 1914, pp. 244-263.

"J. O. Bettelle Rites Abroad." No publication, June 6, 1954.

Krahmer, Charles F., A.I.A. "James O. Betelle."

The Baldwin Memorial Archive of American Architects.

April 13, 1955. Newark Evening News.(Obituary) "James O. Betelle." June 5, 1954