About NMH Northfield

Alumni Perspectives

QUESTION: What do you think is the best possible future use of the Northfield campus?

Use of the campus is in and of itself the important goal. I think it is better to have an unrelated use than make no use at all, if the buildings are standing. If they are not or are deteriorating, I would take them down, rather than watch them fall. I am very comfortable with the prospect of taking down buildings and holding the land if no buyer or user is found. I would rather do that than hold a fire sale where the land is sold at values too low to make an appreciable difference in the financial position of NMH. How little would that be? Good question.  N ’70

An academic program that does not compete with our mission, but which honors the history of the school and preserves the architectural and landscape treasures it represents. If those values can be achieved in an expense-neutral format, we should be satisfied. Ideally, we could preserve long-term ownership of the property so that, in some distant decade, when the Pioneer Valley is appreciated for the unique area it represents, the school will be able to reap the benefits of its ultimate sale. MH ’67

This question has been put to us in various forms at a very late date in the process several times already. Surely the time to think about this was before the merge? NMH ’78

Sell and optimize the current campus. A school isn't real estate, it's a soul, an essence and experience...not a collection of holdings. Sell it and move forward.  NMH ’74

It would be from an emotional standpoint that I would hope it would continue to be "as is." However, in the scheme of life we have to keep in mind the budget. If it can be used for the same purpose as it was set out to be that would be ideal. If not then we seek the alternatives. NMH ’78

This is hard to answer because there are so many factors to consider. My only bias is to be sure that the school does what it needs to do in order to support the students today. However, all decisions need to be done with transparency, respect, and care, and above all, communicated well.  NMH ’83

I'd like to see the campus continue to be used to foster liberal, humanistic, educational goals.  NMH ’73

Plow it under.  MH ’71

Bring it back!!!  NMH ’00

I hope that it will be something that benefits the town of Northfield and surrounding communities as well as the NMH school.  NMH ’79

I would love to keep the campus part of NMH. However, I do understand the costs. Unfortunately, if the student population is not enough to cover the costs of the second campus...business decisions are made. But those two campuses created quite a unique experience.  NMH ’78

Sell it and move on.  NMH ’73

NMH should focus on allocating the maximum resources towards its student body. Financially maintaining the Northfield campus will not allow this. I believe that a suitable investor should be found as soon as possible.  NMH ’97

Since we have tried a number of things, I think that it needs to be sold and let the school get on.  MH ’64

I believe the financial health of the school mandates managing the Northfield campus so it is not a financial drain. If renting the facilities for groups and activities consistent with our mission can accomplish that, wonderful. But if selling it is the only way to ensure that, then it should be sold.  NMH ’80

It does not matter now. The entire school is now at the Mount Hermon campus. Time marches on. N ’60

While I will always wish that the beautiful and personally very meaningful Northfield campus could return to its former use as a campus of NMH I understand why this would never be feasible.   NMH ’05

The decision was made to go to one campus - make a clean break and focus your efforts on making the one-campus school a phenomenal place for current and future students.  NMH ’85

Obviously, this is a very tough question. I understood and initially felt the same rage and disappointment that so many alumni expressed when it was first announced that the Northfield campus would be closed. However, having lived through the alumni rage caused by the decision to go co-ed, I realized that the people that made this decision must have had the school's best interests in mind. At the very least, I think it would be advisable to maintain a building there as a commemoration to the school's roots a museum of sorts.  NMH ’72

It has to be attached to an entity that maintains the values of the school and extends due respect to all the people (alumni and students) who invested in its infrastructure and got it to where it is.  NMH ’91

I am sad that the Northfield campus has been shut down; I cannot envision the future. N ’53

Anything that relieves the financial burden. As much as I loved Northfield. I am willing to let the physical place go to some other use in order to improve NMH as a whole.  N ’71

I would hate to have future generations of students forget Northfield's heritage if the campus were to be sold, and I am afraid that is what would happen unless the campus was kept and was accessible to students, faculty and alumni.  NMH ’74

The Northfield campus can make a considerable, positive contribution to NMH's future. By maximizing the financial return from the Northfield campus, NMH would receive significant funds with which to strengthen its tradition of educating of the head, heart, and hand. As strong as the affinity, affection, and warmth that the Northfield campus engenders, this is the greatest legacy that it can now can make.  NMH ’86

Northfield campus was a huge part of my own NMH experience, and I can't imagine the school without it. How could a whole campus, so much of my own life at NMH, be erased from the NMH experience? But change, although not always welcomed, is necessary.  NMH ’01

I'm an M.B.A so I understand the business aspect of this decision but it doesn't change the fact that I and many other people would be deeply saddened if the Northfield campus disappeared from our lives and the NMH community. It's so beautiful and the buildings are so rich with history - our histories. There was nothing like watching the sun set from the back porch of Marquand and feeling like you were part of something beautiful.  NMH ’91

I would like to see the campus put to use in a way that allows NMH alumni to be a part and have access. I'd also like to see NMH's resources put to use to the benefit of its students as opposed to the benefit of aged buildings. Ideally this would mean a financially self-sufficient endeavor that doesn't strain on NMH's endowment. I really DO NOT want to be denied access to that space. I would like to see the campus stay in NMH's control.  NMH ’01

I would hope that there will always be a link to the school, both physical and emotional. It would tear me up inside to see the Northfield campus off limits to students and alums.  NMH ’89

I may sound cold, but the Board's mandate is to secure the FUTURE of the current school and not continue to run a second rate school while preserving a historical "white elephant" (the Northfield campus).  NMH ’72

Nostalgia over the "old" school is valid but not always constructive (and not strategic for the future). Alumni of either campus need to look ahead, not dwell in past.  MH ’54

I think we need to let go of it in actuality and psychologically (I say that as a four year Hillside resident with VERY fond memories). NMH is a privileged community on many levels beyond whether or not we have an extra 1200 acres. Sell it, give it to the town, do what you have to do. I am ashamed of how lousy the alumni have been about this issue. We need to be bigger and think about the current students- we've had our experience.  NMH ’87

With proper administration, it could successfully generate revenue for the school doing a number of things--something that has been lacking, hence the decision to close it.  NMH ’82

The criteria should be in roughly this order: (1) eliminate the current maintenance expense; (2) [keep use] consistent with harmonious relationships with the town; and (3) capture the long-term value of the property to the school. I would accept tearing down any building, including my favorite the Auditorium. I would be saddened to tears, but we cannot in good conscience continue to use funds that should go to current students and faculty to preserve a museum for emotional alumni who rarely visit. As for long-term value: consider joint development agreements or long term leases to avoid giving away a valuable asset too cheaply.  NMH ’75

I hope that someone who cares deeply about Northfield but is much wiser than I can provide a good answer!  N ’51

Northfield campus holds lifetime memories for people; for some people it holds the memories of some of the best days of their lives. Getting rid of it erases those visual reminders of those memories. Financially it may be hard in the moment, but the value of the place is priceless. Maybe new ideas need to be sought from fresh thinkers, new minds on what to do with the campus. The easy road is usually to offload on to someone else. Let's attempt to take the road less traveled.  NMH ’94

The decision should be compatible with NMH's mission and valued and supported by the Northfield community. I trust the trustees in deciding the best future use of the Northfield campus.  MH ’52

Unfortunately, you should sell it.  NMH ’84

I miss the Northfield campus!  N ’71

It is apparent that the world is not beating a path to its door, but it would be totally unacceptable to allow the legacy structures to fall into irreversible states of disrepair.  MH ’69

I am not sure at all what should be done with the campus and have never been happy with the way that the whole situation was handled in regards to communication with alumni. I would hope that something could be done with the campus that would mesh with NMH while being financially viable and good for the town.  NMH ’88

Whatever you can do to sell it, but I would be very sad if the buildings were demolished. N ‘59

The Northfield Campus should, without a doubt, serve an educational purpose. That is, it should either be an integral part of the NMH academic experience or it should remain under NMH control and be used as a campus for some other institution. The campus should never leave NMH's control. Thereby, current, future and past students will not lose NMH's heritage, legacy and its full potential. And NMH will not sever it's ties with those of us who feel it is essential to keep the Northfield campus alive and part of NMH in some way.  NMH ’06

Please do not let the [Sage] Chapel and other buildings deteriorate beyond usefulness. I would rather have them taken down. N ’45

The decision to abandon the Northfield campus has already been made, so what's the point of arguing about it any more? I opposed it, fearing that NMH was trying to transform itself into another St. Paul's and worrying about its endowment and its profile rather than about its mission in the world as defined by DL Moody - to give students who might not otherwise get it an education of the head, heart and hand. I continue to have these concerns, and the burden is on the administration and the trustees to assuage them.  NMH ’83

Re-open the Northfield campus! You have completely changed the dynamic of the school by lumping all students both artists and athletes into campus. Some students need that distinctive space to truly feel comfortable and safe pursuing their personal growth and education.  NMH ’02

Eliminating my sadness that the Northfield campus isn't part of NMH anymore is almost impossible. However, I feel strongly that NMH's ties to the campus should be maintained if at all possible.  NMH ’98

The Northfield campus has historic and nostalgic value for those of us who lived there. However, NMH must look to the future and try to maximize the campus's value to the school's best advantage. Nevertheless, I would hope that DL Moody can rest in peace when the final decisions are made about future Northfield uses. Please focus on making NMH the fine academic and cultural cradle that made its mark on so many alumni.  N ’65

The updates on the state of the campus have sounded far more optimistic about a future use than has been realistic given the results. Having the campus decay slowly is a waste, damaging to the school and town, as well as disrespectful of the alumni who donated the buildings on that campus.  NMH ’95

I believe that the Northfield campus needs to stay part of the school. There are many options for the use and development of the land and facilities that would allow for D.L. Moody's dreams and goals to still be achieved. We need to reassess his vision of the future of the school and how he would want it to impact the lives of the faculty, staff, alumni, students, members of the community and future students. We need to look beyond the present function of the school in its traditional capacities and develop the next step in which we will be able to carry on the legacy that is Northfield Mount Hermon School.  NMH ’96

As meaningful as the Northfield campus was to me and my lifetime education, I think NMH needs to decide its future in a manner that meets its economic goals and maintains the highest quality education for present and future students. N ‘59

Top of Page