Notes from Cardigan (September, 1973)

Notes from

Cardigan

Nonprofit Organization U.S. POST AGE PAID Canaan, N.H. Permit No. 1

Cardigan Mountain School Canaan, New Hampshire 03741

Issue No. l

September 1973

As the fitting climax to many weeks of active preparation, topped off by two days of concentrated meetings of faculty and staff, the boys have now arrived and school is in full swing again. The campus, the dormitories, the weather, the faculty and the students are bright and eager and all looking forward to a new adventure together . No doubt the advent of Fall brings much the same atmosphere of excitement to your home, even though ours will be a bit noisier than yours now that your son is with us.

We had a wonderful Summer. There were lulls of activity, but not very long ones. After Commencement while the administration takes a deep breath to re-group, the buildings and grounds staff is digging in to clean up, repair, revitalize and shift the campus a·ro~nd for the Summer Session. Since classes are very small, we convert the second floor of CJ~rkMorgan to classrooms. Apartments are cleaned and semi-furnished for teachers and tneir families who come from distant states to join our Summer Session staff. It is also one of the few times in the year when dormitories are all empty, and we take advantage of this for as much repair and redecoration as we can crowd into three weeks.

As if to welcome the Summer students, Mother Nature pulled all her stops ~he first two days and rain poured on us without ceasing. By Saturday night, the lake was very high and threatening to take out a small dam at the outlet which is on School property. Faculty, staff and neighbors worked long and hard to sandbag the dam and keep it in .place. Throughout the area, brooks and rivers overflowed their banks causing washouts . and floods and leaving the town of Canaan isolated from all directions for two days. After this for an overture, school got underway, the sun shone and we had a wonderful time with your sons and daughters.

They came from near and far. Massachusetts was the best represented state (20), but fourth highest was Texas (10). Twenty states (including Hawaii) had emisaries as well as Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Dominican Republic, Mexico and Switzerland. The youngest had just finished third grade - the oldest, ninth.

Academics were confined to basic review in English, Math, Reading and French. Typing was an elective. New this year were afternoon activities in macrame and silversmithing both were very popular and a number of pote~tially fine craftsmen developed as a result .

The production of Gilbert & Sullivan's 11 Trial by Jury 11 at the end of the summer was outstanding - proving what can be accomplished in six weeks of concentrated effort. It does not happen without a skilled and dedicated faculty. Dedication is hard to measure, but skills were apparent with a total of 9 bachelors degrees and 15 masters degrees among this faculty .

A week before the end of the Summer Session, the Covered Sports Area was transformed into a cultural palace for the 3rd exhibit of Art of Northern New England. Over $200,000 worth of paintings and sculpture by 19th and 20th century artists was loaned for the occasion

by Dartmouth College, the Currier Gallery of Art, the New Hampshire Historical Society, Cardigan Mountain School, Saint Gaudens National Historical Site; by many local galleries, and by owners and artists. Hundreds of visitors toured the exhibit (and .our campus) which was for the benefit of the project to restore the old Canaan Meeting House. Built in 1793, it is the oldest public building in the Canaan Historic District. Net proceeds totaled almost $3,000.

The old refrain 11 and the green grass grew all around, all around" came true this year.

It rained so often in June and July that we kept all lawnmowers standing ready and brought them out in force whenever the rain stopped. Even then, we could barely keep up with it.

Lawns and playing fields have never looked more lush nor been in as fine condition. And the grass is still growing!

No grass grew under anyone's feet as far as construction of Greenwood House went, however.

On the fifth of July heavy equipment started work pushing earth and hauling gravel for the road. Clearing, bulldozing, concrete work and then hammering were al -1 preparatory to The Day The House Arrived. The shell was factory built (even though this is a custom designed house) and was delivered in large sections on a flat-bed truck. A huge hoist 1 ifted sections into position. They were all shingled with doors, windows, storm sash and screens in place. As soon as four walls were secured in position - presto! there was a house. It has been fascinating to watch the progress of construction through its various stages. Although the Peck's and boys assigned to Greenwood House are not yet in residence, it is now in the final stages and moving day is not more than a few weeks in the future. Be sure to have a look the next time you are on campus. It's a wonderful gift to our School.

Two other generous gifts have· made substantial improvements possible. From a grandparent, a gift to re-furbish and re-furnish Clark-Morgan Hall. Results are very evident in new ceilings (how badly they were needed!), overhead lights, window shades, repainting, and there will shortly be new beds and mattresses. From an lncorporator, a gif t to carpet halls and stairways in all the dormitories. Manufacturing delays kept this from being completed before registration, but the job will be finished shortly. What marvelous gifts - both directed to campus improvements that will be enjoyed by your sons and future Cardigan boys for years to come. A great school is made greater through the generosity of its benefactors.

In the past year articles have appeared in "The Wall Street Journal'' as well as "Newsweek", Time 11 and other publications casting doubts about the future of independent schools. We'd like to say a word about our plans for the future.

11

First, we are sound financially. Our fiscal year ended June 30, 1973 in the black. This was accomplished only through the cooperation of faculty, staff and students, and an Annual Fund that went over quota. On opening day, we are slightly under our budgeted enrollment, but expect to add boys through the Fall, as usual, and to be filled by Christmas. We expect to run within our balanced budget this year, including an orderly retirement of our modest long-term mortgages and additions to funds for planned replacement of depreciating equipment.

During the year, the Long-Range Planning Committee of our Board of Trustees up-dated our tenyear financial forecast, including our plans for three more house-dormitories, a new maintenance building and other major capital improvements. The Quarter Century Fund campaign is underway to raise our endowment to two mill ion dollars, and a specific drive has been started to build a Learning Center. We open this year with the finest faculty and staff in the history of the School - and your sons make up what we believe will prove to be our finest student body, also.

All of us have full confidence in Cardigan's future, and we trust you will share in our enthusiasm for the continuing existence, progress, growth and excellence of our School.

"Notes from Cardigan" is published monthly by the Cardigan Mountain School.

Third class postage paid at Canaan, N.H. 03741