Passing Time: 02-02-2012 The Meredith News
College days in Center Harbor
Some historical relics are not that old. The astronomical observatory on the east side of College Road in Center Harbor looks out of place, unless we know its connection to Belknap College.
Belknap College was founded in 1963, when the first of the huge wave of baby boom children reached college age. During the Depression of the 1930s and the Second World War, families were small, but with the end of the war and the return of prosperity, the US birth rate skyrocketed. By 1963 colleges and universities nationwide were preparing for big increases in enrollment and the time seemed right for new colleges to be founded. This was when Dr. Royal M. Frye and Dr. Virginia Brigham decided to found Belknap College and picked Center Harbor as its location. Even with a large expected applicant pool and an above-average tuition rate, starting a college without income from alumni or from an endowment was a bold move. Colleges cannot support themselves on tuition alone, but Belknap got off to a fast start with a good size faculty, buildings on the former Tufts estate and in Center Harbor village, and some dedicated and financially generous trustees. The student body grew from fewer than 200 in the first year to some 600, and the impact on Center Harbor was substantial.
The former four story Garnet Inn became a men’s dormitory and the Coe House became a women’s residence. Other buildings in the village also became dormitories, some named for trustees such as Edward Dane of Center Harbor and actor Claude Rains, whose daughter was also on the faculty. The administrative offices and classrooms were located three miles up route 25B at “Founders Hall”, the former Tufts estate and recently the New Hampshire Music Festival. Laboratories for science classes were outfitted. Former barns and outbuildings of the estate became a library and bookstore and also housed the college’s own student fire-fighting squad, which received a vintage truck from Center Harbor and training from the Laconia Fire Department. A new classroom-gymnasium building was constructed there, but proved unsuitable and was later demolished. The meteorology program was innovative for a small college, and an astronomical observatory was built on the hilltop. There was also an active athletic program, including baseball, basketball, skiing and crew, and a student newspaper, “The Belknapian”. Transportation between the village dormitories and the academic campus was provided by two buses which ran regularly up and down the hill. Belknap offered liberal arts courses leading to a B.A. degree and medical technology courses leading to an A.A. degree.
The college employed local residents and some local students enrolled. Student social life took place in the village, where local businesses prospered. Nichols Variety Store was a popular destination and Minnie (Swinnerton) Nichols is fondly remembered by alumni. They probably did not know that she had dedicated decades of her life to teaching school before joining husband Clarence in running the store. But problems loomed. The new college lacked older alumni whose careers had matured and who could support it. The absence of endowment income and of alumni contributions put pressure on trustees to cover budget gaps and led students to add fundraising for the school to their other activities. One attempt involved trying to drive the college fire truck to Washington DC. Belknap never gained accreditation – the basic educational quality standard. This hurt fundraising, but also meant that its students could not obtain federal student loans, could not apply to most graduate programs, and were at a disadvantage in the job market. Financial strains eventually overwhelmed all the good will and creativity that dedicated supporters could muster and the college closed in 1974, leaving a void in Center Harbor. The town re-adjusted, and now loyal alumni return, have erected a historical marker, and have donated a bench to commemorate their lost college. (Partly from Gene McCaffrey and other alumni)
Dan Heyduk is an anthropologist and historian who lives in Meredith. He is researching local history for our weekly column and is eager to receive information and suggestions from readers. He can be reached at dheyduk@metrocast.net or by writing to him at the Meredith News.
Photo: “Founders Hall”
Dan Heyduk photo