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108th Birthday Happy 108th Birthday On the occasion of our beloved schools birthday, a few facts, I am sure all know these, but just to refresh your memories. 1. It was founded in 1895 under the auspices of the Methodist Episcopalian Church of India. 2. Its founder and first Principal was Miss Emma Knowles. 3. Miss Emma Knowles was a missionary sent out to India with the women’s Foreign Missionary Society in 1881. 4. She rented a house named ‘Arcadia ‘in the heart of the town and paid the rent from her own pocket as no financial aid was forthcoming from the church. It was at ‘Arcadia” that the seeds of this mighty institution were sown. 5. There were just 13 pupils on its rolls. 6. In 1900 disaster struck, when a landslide killed 10 pupils. It was a tragedy that would have discouraged and disheartened most – but not Miss Knowles, she was made of sterner stuff. 7. In 1900 the school re-opened in two rented houses named ‘Queen’s Hill’ and ‘The Repose’. These houses were just near the railway station, above the ‘kakjhora’. Jigme Kaji and I had the privilege of photographing these two houses and interviewing its current occupants, for the special issue of Hermonite in 1974. You can still see the name Queen’s Hill, engraved on its façade. Although the name is faded and barely visible, it brings a lump to your throat and feelings of nostalgia flood your insides. 8. The new school was officially called the ‘Queen’s Hill School for Girls’. 9. Emma Knowles retired in 1915 and was succeeded by Miss Carolyn Stahl, who became Principal in 1918. 10. Miss Knowles died in 1924 aged 84, but she must have died peacefully, for Miss Stahl informed her that her greatest desire of having a permanent home for her school had been fulfilled with the purchase of the Mount Hermon Estate in 1920. 11. The site was purchased from the Lebong Tea Company, who had to sell their estate owing to a slump in the Tea industry, by Bishop Fredrick Fisher for a bargain price of Rs.50,000. 12. Bishop Fisher was also instrumental in the purchase of Fernhill, for a princely sum of Rs. 35,000. Fernhill became and has remained the senior boys living accommodation. 13. In 1930 the school was renamed Mount Hermon School, incorporating the original Queen’s High School for Girls and Bishop Fisher’s School for boys. 14. Mount Hermon was a name that came to Bishop Fisher and Miss Stahl during a prayer meeting. Mount Hermon is a snow-capped mountain, 9232 ft high on the Syrian Lebanese border, 25 miles South West of Damascus. Please note that all this information has been garnered from the magnificent book, ‘UNDER THE OLD SCHOOL TOPI’ by an ex-Hermonite Hazel Innes Craig. She was studying here in the 1940’s along with her brother. It is a must read for all Hermonites and I would strongly advise to get hold of this book. HERE’S WISHING OUR OLD SCHOOL A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY. May you regain your old glory and prestige and may you be rid of the current set of parasites and termites who are eating your woodwork, oblivious of the immense damage they are causing you and the hurt and hurt they are causing to all of us who have passed through your hallowed portals. 03/13/2003 By : Vedprakash Graduated : Date : 25/4/2003 15:29 |
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