Original St. Mark’s School Building
An excerpt from Chapter 2 of THE ECHO OF THEIR VOICES: A HISTORY OF ST. MARK’S SCHOOL by Richard E. “Nick” Noble ’76 (estimated date of publication: Summer 2015)
St. Mark’s School made its formal debut on September 13, 1865. It was hot—one of those warm, muggy September days that remind you that summer is not that far behind and have you looking ahead eagerly to the crisp coolness of autumn. The new students straggled in to Southborough over the course of the morning. First to arrive was thirteen year-old Charles Edward Fox. He came in on the earliest milk train from Boston, having made an overnight journey by rail from Washington, DC. Soon the rest of his fellow schoolmates appeared, and they all settled in; all twelve of them. Ceremonies began with a service at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, attended by the boys and some of their parents. Woolen suits and high, stiff collars do not make for a pleasant two hours in an airless church on a humid day, and all, especially the youngsters, were grateful for the ice cream social that followed. Dr. Burnett called it a “collation”, and it was held in the dining room of the newly refurbished St. Mark’s School building—the old Brigham homestead. The trustees, students, parents, and other invited guests spilled out on to the broad veranda, beginning an opening day tradition which would outlast the original St. Mark’s schoolhouse itself.
Burnett Family Home
The first classes were held the next day, September 14, and the weather remained unchanged. That afternoon, the fledgling St. Markers decided to check out this new home of theirs—Southborough and its environs. They headed west, toward the Burnett mansion. Beyond that impressive stone residence lay the broad expanse of Dr. Burnett’s Deerfoot Farm, and there they discovered a millpond. The young explorers wasted no time in seizing the refreshing opportunity. They all stripped off their clothes and dove into the water, reveling in its coolness and splashing uproariously. Within minutes, however, they succumbed to their competitive natures, and began to challenge each other as to who could swim the fastest or the furthest. They were so preoccupied with their aquatic competition that they failed to notice an audience gathering. On the banks were several of Mr. Burnett’s young housemaids, who had gathered to enjoy the spectacle of a dozen boys, ages twelve to seventeen, racing naked through the water. Out looking for her vanished help, Mrs. Burnett soon came upon the scene. She shooed the girls back to the house and ordered the boys to dress and return to the school. She reported the incident to her husband, who informed the Head Master.
Thus the first athletic endeavor in St. Mark’s School history resulted in its very first disciplinary action.
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