S P O T L I G H T
MCINTOSH HOUSE In Memory of Andrew Duncan McIntosh
“Mac House,” as it more commonly known, was built in 1927 by Mr. Taft and originally named the Martin Infirmary, in honor of Dr. James Martin, the school’s first physician. For several years, the building was more familiarly known as “Grant’s Tomb,” after Catherine Grant,a long-time nurse at the school. It was converted to a girls’ dormitory in 1971, at which time it was renamed McIntosh House, and today houses all tenth grade boarding girls. The first
McIntosh House, as some alumni will remember, was the single-story structure built in 1963 (and known today as Upper School Boys’ Dormitory). Andrew McIntosh, known as “The Mac” or “Dean Mac,” taught history and eventually became chairman of the department. He is principally known, however, as Dick Lovelace tells us, as the school’s first dean. In photographs, he is frequently seated on Mr. Taft’s right, and in many ways became his “right-hand”
man after the death of Harley Roberts. Some alumni believed Dean Mac would succeed Mr. Taft as the school’s second headmaster. In the early years of Paul Cruikshank’s administration, “he was a strong and direct link with Horace Dutton Taft.” He retired in 1947 after 44 years at Taft, a record of service to the school that is still unsurpassed. Those who wish to know more about “Dean Mac” may wish to read his chapter in Bill Nicholson’s book, Those Who Served. Taft Bulletin
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