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Stockbridge House History
The University Club is housed in two colonial era New
England farmhouses. The Boltwood-Stockbridge House, built in 1728, is
on its original site and is the oldest house in Amherst. The Homestead
House, built in 1735, was moved to its present location in 1973 and attached
to the Boltwood-Stockbridge House to enlarge the Club’s facilities.
Much of the history of the Boltwood-Stockbridge House
attaches to its named rooms:
Daniel Chester French Room
Daniel Chester French (1850-1931), sculptor of
the statue in the Lincoln Memorial, and of the statue of the Concord Minuteman,
lived in this house as a boy when his father, Henry Flagg French (1813-1885)
served as first President of the Massachusetts Agricultural College (1864-1866).
Daniel worked on the College farm before students enrolled at the College
and his father referred to him as "the first graduate of M.A.C."
A bust of President French, sculpted by Daniel, is in the collection of
the University. *
Levi Stockbridge Room
Levi Stockbridge (1820-1904) was influential in
persuading the first Trustees of the Massachusetts Agricultural College
to locate the College in Amherst. He later became the first full-time
officer of the College, serving as Farm Superintendent (1867-1869), Professor
(1867-1879), Acting President (1876) and President (1880-1881).
A pioneer of scientific agriculture, he patented early
formulas for matching chemical and organic soil fertilization to specific
crops. He contributed his first royalties ($1,000) in 1877 to pay the
College debts when the annual state appropriation to the College was only
$14,000.
The name of Levi Stockbridge continues to be familiar
on the campus. Stockbridge House where he had his office now serves as
the University Club. Stockbridge Hall on the west side of the campus is
the headquarters of the University’s two-year Stockbridge School
of Agriculture. *
Tory Room
This long room is named to recall to mind the nine
Royalists who were briefly "confined altogether in the house"
at the time of the American Revolution. **
Baker Lounge
Named for Hugh Potter Baker (1878-1950), President
(1933–1947) when Massachusetts State College became the University
of Massachusetts, this room was added when he renovated the Stockbridge
House for use as the Faculty Club.**
The Homestead House
The Homestead House, built in 1731, was acquired
by the Massachusetts Agricultural College in 1928 and used for many years
as a residence for women who were taking the practical homemaking course
required of students majoring in Home Economics. In this house is the
Chancellors Room. Prior to 1970 the Presidents of the Massachusetts Agricultural
College, the Massachusetts State College and the University of Massachusetts
were located on the Amherst campus. With establishment of the Boston and
Worcester campuses, the current multi-campus University System came into
being and the University President’s office was moved to Boston.
Since 1970 the Chief Executive Officer of the campus has carried the title
of Chancellor. This room is named in honor of the Amherst campus Chancellors
and displays photographs of each. * and **
Sources:
*Frank Prentice Rand, "Yesterdays at Massachusetts State College",
1933
**"The Village of Amherst a Landmark of Light", 1958 by the
same author.
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