Rebuilding After Thoreau House
Construction is underway
on a new dormitory to house the boys displaced by Thoreau House. Thank you to all of the donors who stepped up in our time of need and made this new dormitory a reality for our students. New Dormitory Details: Location: West End of Campus next to Farr Cottage, eventually connecting to Cortland House Number of Students: 11 Students and 1 Faculty apartment Square Footage: 5,000 square feet on two floors Timeline: Planned to be ready for December 2016 Total Project Cost: $2,000,000 To learn how you can join our efforts to rebuild after Thoreau, please contact Jenny Fisher at fisherje@proctoracademy.org or 603-735-6218.
On Saturday, June 25, a structure fire broke out in the Thoreau House barn just before 3:00 pm. The fire quickly spread to the faculty apartment and the rest of the dormitory. The Town of Andover Fire and Rescue squads, along with fourteen other town fire departments, responded to the fire within minutes. Unfortunately, the entire dorm and faculty apartment were a loss and had to be demolished after the fire. Thoreau House became a dormitory when girls first enrolled at Proctor in 1972-1973. Over the next five decades, the quirky little dorm on Lawrence Street was home to hundreds of students and dozens of different faculty families. Tucked away beyond Proctor Block between two private residences, Thoreau House may not have been the most desirable housing option for students, but those who lived there took great pride in their dorm community. When tragedy strikes, the power of the Proctor community rises to the occasion. A remarkable outpouring of love and support has helped faculty members Craig Leaman and Katherine Goller (who resided in Thoreau House at the time of the fire and lost all their possessions and their beloved dog, Keo) navigate a challenging summer. Additionally, current families have embraced the housing shortage on campus this fall with a positive attitude and willingness to remain flexible until our new dormitory is ready for the Winter Term!
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