Governors Academy - Milestone Yearbook (Byfield, MA)

Page 11 text:

X Q X Xxxxxxx 5 3 ! X X N B , 708 -- N xxxx s X xx vu 'W f ff ,' ,f f f X-X X' X- X X X s 175 xff fx - A X xx - 4 N xxx Y ' ,M x If. ' '-l tx,-:V 1 izf ,Xx x X xsg Q , .. .,.. rx , a.. 5 QQ t -Qc N - V . I EDITOR'S FORE ORD The current school year has been marked by two major ac- complishments-the acquisition of the Noyes farm, and the restoration ofthe old red schoolhouse. Important as is the Noyes farm, with the new corridor, the new shops, and the space for new playing fields, the editors have thought it fitting to feature the restoration ofthe original schoolhouse in this, the one hundred and seventy-fifth anniversary number ofthe year- book. And the editors are proud to present as a feature article Mr. Morse's account ofthe restoration of that building. , ,U--,::f.' :ii., .'j-'4 I x -- g,.,.',x r-:. -...vi H-- 7

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v V X X ' ggfy, . x, -xg ' K Y , XNXXX x - 3 1 l f u Q: X 'X Y Y- I - XX I-574 X, sl: ' . l X , V '44 1, P ,..,. . ll xi - V S, - X' .Xl N B I-1 , 9 - N' ,, Tx 'qu T, : i ' 'TN-V ' T' vi' , gt N 7 . V X, I The Little Red Schoolhouse By THE REV. GLENN TILLEX' NIORSE, B.D. To all who love Governor Dummer Academy there is one object especially dear, the little old red schoolhouse. We are proud of the imposing beauty of the Mansion House, home of Lt.-Governor VVilliam Dummer, founder of the Academy. It conveys to us some of the stately character and generous hospitality of that honored gentleman, who served the colony of Massachusetts Bay faithfully and was a loyal subject of his king and country. Time after time he was honored by his fellow men. Through his long years of public service he made an honorable record and, at the end, left a lasting heritage which has blessed and enriched many genera- tions. His public spirit and generosity in founding the Academy, the first of its kind in America, still thrills our hearts with grateful appreciation. The Mansion House was a proper setting for so dignified and excellent a gentleman. VVe love the broad acres in this beautiful landscape, with the arching elm trees waving their graceful branches high over head, and the extensive meadows stretch- ing far and wide to give us ample room. The old and the new buildings are scenes of precious memories that will linger in our minds and be recalled in fond reveries when we are far away. The landmarks are engraved upon our hearts, seeming to cluster about and to be linked with the old milestone. - But there is one object most dear, the little old red schoolhouse, for which we have a feeling ofprotective affection, akin to the love for a dear old mother to whom we are indebted for our lives and to whom we give long, tender care. The little house was built in 1762, as the mother building of the school at that time founded here. It is so little and yet was large enough to house the infant school. Generations have come and gone, in numbers far outgrowing it, but here the little schoolhouse has remained in constant, useful service. Now, in its old age, one hundred and seventy-five long years, especial care must be taken to preserve and perpetuate this beloved object if we would have it longer. The anniversary this year seemed a good time to celebrate the completion of so long a service in the oldest private boarding school in America by saving and restor- ing this original schoolhouse. Our object has been to preserve all the old material that remained and to replace exactly what was too far gone for longer service. For our architect, we have been fortunate in securing Mr. VVilliam Graves Perry, who has won fame in this kind of work by directing the restoration of YVilliamsburg, Virginia. VVe can depend upon his skill and experience. After careful examination of the original foundations and the construction of the building, he drew the plans. The restoration is giving us our treasured relic as nearly as possible in its ap- pearance and condition at the time the school was started, on that first day of March, 1763, and furnished with contemporary objects which might have been there then. VVe have had revealed to us a long-forgotten door in the side of the building. sw ., .t, , .I qv. . , , p ' . - de ' 4:', ffq-'fgs'i X 'Y mer- 1 ' ' A hairs. P - . a-if' ,ff ll 9