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The proposed Burton D. Morgan Center at WRA
"Is there no way to accept this gift without forever negatively altering the WRA campus?"In October of 1999, Western Reserve Academy announced that it had been honored with its largest bequest ever - a $6,000,000 grant from the Burton D. Morgan Foundation. The funds were stipulated to construct a new administrative center on College Street, adjacent to Ellsworth Hall.
While delighted by the news - and the efforts of Reserve's Headmaster and Board to secure it - Reserve's best friends,including many of its staunchest partisans, are deeply concerned about the impact this edifice would have on one of only two surviving "brick row" campuses in America (Amherst is the other).
Strings attached
Unfortunately, this very generous grant comes with strings attached: requiring the center to be built in a place that would forever block what many feel is the campus' finest prospect - one that has endured for over 150 years.
Simply put, the Chapel and Brick Row have been the first glimpse of every new arrival to Reserve since the late 1830s. The new building will block that, and its back side will be the first impression of future generations.
Reserve's biggest fans
Besides hundreds of alumni, faculty and other Reserve 'family', this prospect numbers no less a supporter than Anner Baldwin (nee Hudson - David's daughter). She and husband Harvey, who granted Reserve the land in question, expressly stated in 1871 that "there shall not be... any buildings erected thereon..."
Here you will find expressions of concern, a paper on WRA's Brick Row, links to media coverage and more - offered by people who dearly love Reserve, and wish to see a practical and enduring accomodation for the desires of the Morgan Foundation.
What to do?
If you share this concern, please make your thoughts known to the Board of Trustees (contact information below). If you wish to add your letter to this page, please email the text to Priscilla Graham at Fabricpt@aol.com.
An open letter from William HydeThe Baldwin heir asks that the family's wishes be honored
Response to Tom Vince, writing in the Hudson Hub Times
Letters and email of support for re-siting
David R. Anderson '98 , Wilbur S. Bailey IV, '76 , Susan L. and Michael D. Baker, P'??, P'??, P'??, Jeannette Bang '95, Christian Callsen '81, Laurence Coffin '51, Anthony A. Cox, '58, Rick Dixon '71, Ninette Enrique '83, Ronel Enrique '79, Edward Enrique '88, Charles Ferguson, '51, Aylie Fifer, '94, Susan R. Fleming, '78, Jerry B. Gapp '55, Dick Geuder, '54, Gregory Gordillo '79, Priscilla Graham P '70, Jim Gramentine 52, Chris Gulker '69, John Handloser '40 , George T. Haramis Jr. (Kim), '71, Rt. Rev. Alden Hathaway '51, Alden Hathaway, II '77, Christopher Hathaway '80, Pat Holden, P'70, P'73, P'77, P'81, James R. Horner, '41, George A. and Katie Hoy, Ron Ihrig '57 , Janet G. Kimball, Jack and Polly Kurowski, Virginia Davies Lenker'77, Nathaniel E. Leonard '82 , Kimber Longstreth '74, Duncan B. MacLaren '59, Robert and Joan Maher, P'76, P'77, P'78, P'80, P'83, Clifton Maize '69, Sarah Burnham Malinowski '74, Molly K. McKew '96 , Malcolm Meyer, '51, Nicolaus Mills, '57, Colleen Newman '92, Perry and Shirley Noe, Greg Pennington '70, Jennifer Campbell Peterson '84 , Sandra J. Pickut, Shell Rieley '57, Wellington Reiter '75 , Kelly Reynolds, '54, Rebecca M. Rogers, Virginia Rogers, P'76, Jim Roth '78, Chris Rundell '86 , Dick and Mary Lou Rundell P '76, '78, '80 and '86 , Rick Rundell '76, Leonard E. Seaman, III '83, Ghislaine Sefrioui 94, John P. Stafford '74, Howard C. Walker, III '88 , Inga E. Weimer '91 , Jenny Weiss '86, Amy Cull Willey '74, [Name withheld by request], Ernest and Mary Jennings Zielasko, P'73, P'82, P'86
Letters and email against re-siting
Leonard E. Seaman, III '83, Frank M. Theis '81
(And no, Ash Graham was never a WRA teacher)
Hudson Hub Times Story (URL to come)
Priscilla Graham's letter to the Board of Trustees
"..if the building is put in the wrong place, the harm to the campus... cannot be undone. Surely a more congenial placement can be agreed upon."
...and letter to Headmaster Skip Flanagan [page 1] [page 2]
" [congratulations on] receiving such a generous gift...! [However] WRA's Brick Row now makes such a beautiful impresssion as it now stands. Unquestionably, the new building would spoil that lovely vista."
Rick Rundell's letter to fellow alumni
"Delighted as I was to hear that dear old Reserve had received a $6M grant... I knew as an architect who works on academic campuses the drama, the uniqueness, and the fragile nature of a brick row campus plan..."
Sarah Burnham Malinowski's letter to Davis Cable
"Reserve has finite space, nothing is added to student life by cramming every inch with buildings and blacktop"
A paper: The Brick Row of Western Reserve Academy
"Western Reserve and Amherst... envisioned a row of brick buildings oriented North and South overlooking their respective village centers. The college chapel... was... the central edifice of the collegiate ensemble."
Anner (Hudson) Baldwin's Deed and Release
"It is hereby... expressly understood that... there shall not be any occupancy of said land or any portions thereof or any buildings erected thereon..." [from the Release]
In particular please contact:President H. Arthur Bellows, Jr., '56 abellows@surveys.com
Vice President Stephan W. Cole, '66 colehme@en.com
Vice President R. Mark Hamlin, '74 mhamlin@reservegroup.com
Chair, B&G Jefferson W. Keener, '50 jwkjr@chardonrubber.com
Mail address - c/o:
Western Reserve Academy
115 College Street
Hudson, OH 44236(330) 650-4400
WRA's press release announcing the Morgan grant
Reserve Record article
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- updated 12/28/04
Class of '69 reunion photos are here
