2,174 Comments for Bennett School for Girls

Pat,
Thanks for that update, however sad it is, Bennett will still be a grand old gal & will live on in all the photos, videos & stories. If you are able to & you see it happening, could you take some photos to share of her coming down? I always thought she'd take herself down, but sadly that is not going to happen.

Yeah, I know that any "restoration" would basically involve demolishing most, if not all of Halcyon, and then rebuilding it. But parts of it, and even the other campus buildings, might be able to be salvaged or restored without demolition. Though in the end most of it would be brand new, that would be good enough for me. It's the most I could ask for without leaving reality behind. We're far too late in the game for any real restoration of Halcyon. That would've had to happen 20 to 30 years ago.

As far as demolition goes, I've seen small houses get flattened in an hour or two, so it might take a day each for most of the buildings. Maybe a couple of days for Alumnae Hall. Halcyon will be completely different. The sheer size of it, the structural integrity, and the amount of contaminants will probably add up to a lengthy process. I don't want to be there for it, but something is telling me that I should. It should be safe enough, especially with a good mask. I mean, the workers have to be there, and with everyone who lives in the condos, they must have to be very careful. If I were to be there, I'd probably be sitting up on the hill near Exmoore, staying off of their property of course. If worse comes to worse, I also have access to a drone with a 1/4 mile range.

I'm not sure whether or not I'd actually want a souvenir. As much as I'd want to save a piece of Halcyon from going to the trash heap, it wouldn't be right or respectful. It just feels like looting or grave robbing to me, though I don't think less of anyone who wants to, especially now. Maybe my mind will change once it's all said and done.

I think it really is far too late to have hope for restoration. I just think it'd be false hope, really. I'm trying more to be realistic about what will likely be a rapid start to demoing. How long does it take to knock down something this size? I wonder. I know it is going to cost ALOT, especially complying with standards etc. But as much as I'd like to witness or film the demo, I think it would not be too smart. There is SO much hazardous material throughout the place, asbestos EVERYWHERE. It is going to be a freakin MESS while this is going on.
But I think it would be deconstructively interesting, seeing it for a brief moment, in a way that only its builders got to, really, way back in 1893.
Only in reverse, as it disappears from the physical world, and its architecture reverts back to just an idea, a footprint, a floorplan and elevations, back from material fact to only a concept on paper.

As far as souvenirs go, I really wanted the little collonette that supported the balcony of the east gable facade. It was a single component, that had a concentrated abundance of Edwardian detail.
Probably about 4 feet high. The last I saw, it was practically disintegrated from rot. C'iest La Vie.

In many ways it survives. It has been one of the most avidly photographed and documented buildings of its era.

well its been a good ride- we'll see where will I go in Oct in the future guess just wander on looking for my next passion meanwhile i may be able to see her in titty bitty pieces perhaps a souvenier

Hi, Pat. It seems news travels fast around Millbrook. I was too broken up about it to come share it yesterday, but it looks like you beat me to it. I thought we'd have more time. After years of nothing being done, I hoped that there would be at least a few more to come. Enough time for me to finish my schooling, and raise the money needed to make Halcyon and the Bennett campus whole again. I guess after reading about so many failed attempts, I was beginning to think that only Mother Nature herself could bring down Halcyon.

I think you're right that they're serious this time around. It seems like everyone involved has their seal of approval on it, and with such an aggressive timeline, they're not messing around. They've also upped security in the area. I noticed a great big security camera on the front gate in the pictures from the Journal, that wasn't there in mid-May. I was kind of anticipating something like this being announced since I saw the paving notice for Bennett Common Way and Exmoor Lane about a week ago. Where I live, we have main roads in worse shape that still aren't getting attention. I figured something was up, but I wasn't expecting it so soon. However, this is the third or fourth time that it's been scheduled for demolition since this website went up, so you never know.

I'm still holding out hope. Call me naive, call me a fool, but there's still a chance, however slim, for Halcyon to be saved. As long as there's someone who hasn't given up, it'll still exist. Perhaps they'll change their minds in a month, and decide to renovate instead of raze. I'd still like to see this plan go through if they don't though. It's the best of what's available, and much better than those that came before. I stumbled across some renderings of the previous condo plans, and they were terrible, to say the least. I sort of know how you feel, Pat. I think the park plan is a good one, but I'm not ready to say goodbye yet, and I've only been here since November. You've been around Halcyon for your entire life.

On a happier note, for those of us not ready to leave the past behind, I've finished updating the Bennett in Color album. It now includes over 100 images, including some really good ones from the '62 and '64 yearbooks.
https://imgur.com/a/zd0N27g

greetings Halcyon Lovers, it has been reported that the plans for Halcyon going back to 2014, to make it a public park are back underway. It's disposition has been linked to the preservation of the Thorne Building in the village. Both are part of a $20 million project, administered by the Tribute Garden Foundation and the Thorne's own foundation. There have been years of delays, but the project is now moving forward.

Demolition of Halcyon Hall may begin as soon as August.

How many times have I and others said that? ha...

But it seems like the real deal this time. Money is still being raised, but they are pretty much ready to move forward now for alot of reasons, mostly it's linkage to the Thorne Building's redevelopment. There is a persuasive logic to that connection. The money around that allocates a
sensible outcome to the Bennett "issue" without the potential of uncharacteristic development being the price to pay for remediation.

The site is to be a public park, after the demo of Halcyon, the dorms, the theater, the Science building, the chapel, several derelict houses, and removal of the adjacent condos to a new site west.

The wooded area north of it is partly included. The possible mini rail trail connecting the park to the village green, as augered and first suggested by Pat Ratchet right here several years ago? Perhaps.

As far as I know, I will state again that there was a State ordered mandate that the stonework of Halcyon Hall must be saved where possible. This goes back years, applying to the development project[s] that were proposed for the site. I can't imagine why it would not still apply, but what the hell do I know about the law?
I am completely convinced however that the project itself is as accomodating of history and preservation as can be expected or hoped for. And the entities involved almost solely responsible for this ruin we enjoy still being here, and not only not demolished 15 years ago, but not replaced with 500 condominiums at the entrance to this little village.
So as its end seems near, I still like to reflect that while it is nothing short of a damn shame that this special place wasn't saved, decades back, it still had some positive impact in terms of Preservation efforts.
Thirty years ago, landmark court rulings regarding the FDIC's preservation responsibilities were based on Halcyon Hall's precedent cases. And now it is sort of the sacrificial offering so that a sister Victorian treasure may live on. Linking the two outcomes is good karma, as well as good economic sense. It makes me feel better about the inevitable, that it is all being done in a considered manner. My hope is that the stonework would be a terrace / cornerstone of the new park.
So that some fabric of what has been here for 130 years remains, to impress, and to even be enjoyed in a way it cannot even now.

It still is so disappointing. As much as I regard the upcoming transition to a public park, I am in denial about how much it will affect me when they finally do tear this grand hall down. Maybe I'll be wrong again, like I have been for decades!

Cheers.

Thank You all so much for ALL the information, the updates, and pictures, the Youtube movie, and comments.
It is amazing She still stands - so well built after all. A beauty that moves us.
Bless You all, and may You all be well is the daily wish.
Am hoping for a good great summer for all.

That's a very nice video, Iceberg. If I'm not mistaken, it was made by the same team that's working on The Halcyon Project documentary. I can't wait for that to finally come out. There's also an opera about Bennett in the works. That was supposed to premiere about a year ago, but COVID threw a wrench in everyone's live entertainment plans. I'm not sure when the new premiere date is.

Pat, that 3D model of Halcyon sounds like a great idea, and I'd love to see it when you finish. I'm glad you liked the colorized photos. I should have an update coming to that album before too long, as I've found a lot more pictures, among other things. More recently, however, I've been helping the Bennett Swans find and digitize their old albums. So far, we've managed to get three out of the six of them.

https://soundcloud.com.../bennett-black-swans
https://soundcloud.com...sets/show-us-the-way
https://soundcloud.com...3/sets/all-that-jazz

wonderful how well put together thanx

Pat, Felicity & wanderer, I stumbled upon this video of her from Antiquity Echoes on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zh6Zm5kTDKY

The images & the music make it a wonderful watch & a good telling of her history. Shows how much the grand ole gal has gone through over the years. Yet, she still stands. Tough ole gal she is too.

yep as we get older not as much zest for life you can see the old girl more than we can they'll probably putting a plaque on us before she dies just think a new generation of UR's will only see the the ancient bones of Halcyon and know her as that hopefully stupid covid 19 takes a hike so i can make my trek- a generation that will NEVER know the peaceful Millbrook- every year it gets like any other dilute town remember 1985 ?

greetings all, Spring is upon us. Hope everyone is making it safe through these crazy times, and everyone is well. Thank you for all the kind words, Iceberg, and Mica, and Felicity, and Wanderer, of course, and everyone else, so many to name, in the Halcyons admirer-sphere. And of course, to the ever admired Motts, sir.
I'd think whatever transpires will inevitably be delayed for more than a bit, ha ha...of course. Mother Nature rolls along however, as this past year has reminded us, if nothing else.
Yes Wanderer, I know how you feel. But you know? I have been trying to sort of still really remember and be grateful for what is still a special place to me. I feel there has been a change over time though, in that people seem they DO have that regard for how things were. There has been a renewed interest in the history and the landmarks and the general character of regard the village seems to hold a bit more. In some ways it has seemed to 'loosen up' and in others, improved. There seems a bit more pride, I guess, in a good way. I try to be a part of that
side of it, and everyone has been very gracious, as they are on Opacity.
It certainly has made me feel less 'hostile' or combative towards various situations or entities, if not regretful for a fair bit of sarcasm. But there does seem to be some sense of civic regard, that had it been present, or engaged, let's say, decades previous might have made a difference. So it's more positive going forward . But these are all historical what-if's from the drawing board, eh?
Enjoyed your pictures, Felicity. Also In the spirit of wanting to remember Halcyon 'as it was' I am contemplating an authentic architectural model of the building in all its [1893 era] glory. Sort of a commemorative / preservation gesture to the old girl, as it slowly departs our world.
It is the sort of thing that is a little crazy, but with the 3D printing and a good company, I think it really could be done justice. Its a challenge, because I'd really want it 'spec' enough to want to work on it a bit myself. But perhaps with just some of the finish, maybe. So perhaps a bit of a collaboration with a pro partner. But anyhow, I think it deserves the honor.
On other fronts, the pandemic has halted the James E Ware Walking Tour on Millbrook's Community Day, both last year's, and likely this Fall as well. So I am contemplating a video version to film later this year. The upshot is this will be able to include Halcyon Hall, precluded previously by distance from the village. So until tours are practical, it would be cool to do a more in-depth/ definitive version. So stay tuned.
What else? Oh yeah, my new cause du'jour, slight off-topic, but related. The Millbrook Gazebo, on Elm Drive. Playground, village tennis courts. In need of major TLC. It's a Ware. Likely from the garden terrace
that fronted the only house there, a modest shingled Ware from around 1890. It's got a conical roof with copper finial, decorative timbering reminiscent of the Edgewood Estate, and a cement and fieldstone base.
It's pretty busted up now. But this is the sort of project that is NOT ALOT of effort or money. Some contractor[s] and local merchants get together, volunteer time/ materials, make it a community effort, perhaps with the TRibute Garden Foundation. They can't do Halcyon right now, so why not a real small, sweet, EASY preservation project
like this Halcyon contemporary? They can put a small little metal plaque there with credits and all. It's a small roof, like a little garage,
some carpentry, replacing a 5 side balustrade, and some point work on the stone. Voila. MIllbrook could congratulate itself on a successful Preservation effort.
Maybe I'll start a mess about it! Until then, maybe we'll run into each other admiring the sharp Halcyon silhouette still there on the hill.
Bless all of you and yours, and be safe out there, good people!

I haven't been able to find that many, wanderer. Or maybe I just haven't found the ones I'm looking for? Anyways, you're right, there's nothing like going down and seeing her in person. I can't wait for summer to come, and COVID to clear up, so I can go spend some more time there. In the meantime, I've taken what pics I've found, and ran them through a colorization AI. The results were varied, but some of them were pretty good. I present, Bennett in Color.

Bennett in Color

[removed][removed]

felicity there are lots of pic of the old girl as a young woman BUT seeing in real time is fab been going there since '85

You're welcome, Iceberg. I'm always happy to help. It's a shame that, based on what you said, we're going to lose more of her soon. I just wish I could see her as she was. Unfortunately, I'm neither a time traveler nor a millionaire, so I don't see that happening any time soon. A girl can hope though.