91����

It was a celebration delayed, but it would not be a celebration denied. On October 8, the 91���� Northampton School community, joined by members of the Board of Trustees, gathered to dedicate Emily McFadon Vincent House and Wold House, thus completing the $20 million Residential Quadrangle project. “We’ve been waiting a year for this moment, a truly momentous one in 91���� Northampton School’s long history since 1841,” said Robert W. Hill III, Head of School. “The Residential Quad, where we are standing today, has transformed our campus, bringing us literally and symbolically closer together.”

The Quad—a verdant 80,000-square-foot landscaped commons surrounded by three state-of-the-art, sustainably designed dormitories—has been a centerpiece of the school’s strategic plan since its approval by the trustees in 2017. The area’s first dormitory, built in 2008, was initially known only by its address, 194 Main Street. That changed moments after Hill’s introduction, when former school Trustee Peter Wold ’67 and his wife, Marla, released a banner revealing the building’s new name: Wold House. The dedication recognized the Wold family’s deep connection to and generous support for 91����. Also taking part were their son, Joe Wold ’06, and Joe’s wife, Chelsey Cutting Wold ’07, who met at 91���� and were married at the chapel.

In his remarks, Peter Wold recalled arriving on campus in the fall of 1964, having driven for three days with his parents from their home in Casper, Wyoming, where he lives today. “They dropped me off in front of the chapel and said, ‘This school will provide you with many opportunities. Work hard. Take advantage of them,’” he said. “Over the years my appreciation for experience and the education I received here at 91���� has grown.”

Added his son Joe, accompanied by Chelsey and their two young children, “91���� truly holds a special place in our hearts. From the first time I stepped foot on the 91���� campus, the faculty and staff made me feel right at home.”

“Schools are built by those who come before you,” Hill reminded those in attendance, “and you should never forget that debt of gratitude we owe them.”