In 1979, at a meeting for interested
parents at the Hayner Center, six original families
pledged $100 each to start a Montessori School after
seeing the beautiful Montessori materials and hearing
about the philosophy. It was a humble beginning.
We rented a room in the little parsonage
of St. John’s Church on Walnut Street and used
the wide porch and front and back yards and took walks
in the neighborhood. We created such a lovely environment
that St. John’s decided to have its own program
and we had to leave!
In the fall of 1981, we leased the
former kindergarten room at the Forest School on Canal
Street. It had been vacant for several years and was
now occupied by Stouder Hospital for special wellness
programs. Our room was charming and the Stouder staff,
including Ann Baird, were supportive. There was a
faux stone fireplace which the children used as a
reading nook and we added more children.
In 1983 we extended the primary class
to full-day and added a transitional class of 5-7
year old children.
In 1985 we leased a second room and
separated the two classes.
In 1987 we had an option to purchase
land on Swailes Road. At a zoning hearing, we were
denied a rezoning request. The neighbors were concerned
that the school would generate too much traffic.
In 1988 we purchased land from Dr.
Cass Cullis at our present location on Troy Town Road.
An architect was hired and the building, with much
light and gardens, was designed and built. It housed
all of the existing rooms except for the existing
Lower Elementary classroom. Parents raised $8,000
for the playground which was installed that summer.
In 1991 an addition, to house a second
Early Childhood class, was designed and built to meet
the needs of a rapidly growing enrollment.
