Columbus Hall, home to Northern Chautauqua Catholic School, has never ceased being a school. Generations of students have passed through its doors—educated within the same walls, grounded in the same values, and shaped by the same mission.

Northern Chautauqua Catholic School has announced the launch of Campaign 157, an effort to strengthen and sustain private Catholic education in Chautauqua County. The campaign begins in 2026, the 157-year anniversary of the completion of the school’s historic building originally called Columbus Hall — perhaps the oldest private elementary school building in use in New York state.

Campaign 157 celebrates the school’s deep roots while looking ahead to ensure the future of faith-based learning in the region. As part of the initiative, NCCS will rename the school building in honor of a major benefactor, recognizing the vital support that has sustained the institution for over a century and a half.

“The Northern Chautauqua Catholic School has been a cornerstone of faith and education for generations,” said Principal Paul Pinto. “Campaign 157 is both a celebration of our legacy and a call to action — to ensure that Catholic education continues to thrive in our community for generations to come.”

Since 1854 private Catholic, faith-centered, academically excellent education has been available to families in Chautauqua County and beyond. The NCCS school and its historic building in downtown Dunkirk, represent both the resilience of Catholic education and the enduring spirit of the community. NCCS welcomes all students regardless of religious affiliation.

Campaign 157 begins with the announcement of its first $25,000 leadership donation. This milestone gift symbolizes a strong start toward the campaign’s dual mission: increasing enrollment and expanding philanthropic support

Campaign 157 invites all alumni, parishioners, and community members to share in NCCS’s mission of providing exceptional Catholic education rooted in faith, service, and academic excellence – available to all.

For more information about NCCS and Campaign 157, please contact: Pinto, Principal and Chief Operating Officer at Northern Chautauqua Catholic School, 336 Washington Ave., Dunkirk, NY 14048 or call 716-366-0630 or 716-949-9082 .Email is ppinto@nccschool.us

Built in 1869, Columbus Hall is the original home of Northern Chautauqua Catholic School and one of the oldest elementary school buildings in New York State still in educational use. For 157 years, it has served the children and families of Dunkirk as a place of learning, faith formation, and community life.

Unlike many historic school buildings that have been closed or repurposed, Columbus Hall has never ceased being a school. Generations of students have passed through its doors–educated within the same walls, grounded in the same values, and shaped by the same mission.

Architecturally, Columbus Hall reflects Romanesque Revival influences, emphasizing permanence, balance, and strength. One historic account described the building as “a diminutive version of the fifteenth-century Italian Renaissance palaces,” a remarkable distinction for a regional school and a testament to the vision of its builders.

Columbus Hall stands in rare company alongside the Oliver Hazard Perry School (P.S. 34) in Brooklyn, built in 1867 and now a designated historic landmark. Both buildings share:

— Construction in the post-Civil War era

— Continuous use as elementary schools

— Deep integration into the life of their communities

Where Oliver Hazard Perry School has received formal historic recognition, Columbus Hall represents its Western New York sister–a living educational landmark whose story is still unfolding.

Today, Columbus Hall stands at the heart of Campaign 157, symbolizing both the legacy entrusted to this generation and the responsibility to carry it forward.

“For 157 years, Columbus Hall has been a cornerstone of Dunkirk’s civic and educational life. Its continuous use as a school and its architectural integrity place it among New York State’s most significant educational buildings, deserving recognition comparable to the Oliver Hazard Perry School in Brooklyn,” said Edmund Schober, Architect, LaBella Associates, D.P.C.