Jeff Lee – amateur historian
The Little Red Schoolhouse
Friday, November 4, 12:15PM
Strong House, 67 Amity St, Amherst
On the eastern edge of the Amherst College Campus, the Little Red Schoolhouse stood as a symbol of excellence in early childhood education for nearly eighty years. Its creation drew from the contributions of several notable figures, including:
• Stanley King, who presided over Amherst College during a period of significant development, and documented his involvement in detail.
• William Rutherford Mead, co-founder the iconic American architectural firm of McKim, Mead and White, whose legacy served to establish the Mead Art Museum.
• William Kellum Smith, prolific, if somewhat controversial designer of academic buildings, and last partner of McKim, Mead and White.
Slated for demolition in 2012 to make way for a new science center, the Little Red Schoolhouse was the focus of an active citizen effort, working in cooperation with Amherst College, to relocate and preserve it. The building’s twilight years serve as an object lesson in the challenges of historical preservation.
Join us with your lunch in hand. We will provide coffee, tea and cider for you as you listen to the presentations. The 30-minute program will begin promptly at 12:15 with seating and beverages ready just before noon. The lectures are free and everyone is welcome to attend.