Cardigan Mountain School A boarding and day school for boys in grades 6 through 9

About
“We want him to be in an environment where he can excel without any limits, and Cardigan offers him that.”– Parent J. Frantz Dorilas P'19
Admissions
“What he learned here on The Point was that if you work hard and achieve something, it feels really really good in the end.”

– Parent Andrew King P'16,'19
Academics
“Boys that are doing are boys that are learning”– Head of School Chris Day P'12,'13
Athletics
“One day, I was eavesdropping on the coaches working with the captains of their teams, and they were actually teaching them how to be captains. It was amazing.”– Parent Topsy King P'16,'19
Student Life
"We possess the ability to reach the individual boy at a vital age in his life. At Cardigan, all have to live in small groups with the other fellow--a great foundation for civilization of tomorrow."– Harold "Hap" Hinman, Founder of Cardigan Mountain School
Giving
“The opening of Wallach will further advance Cardigan’s initiative to teach innovative design, applied engineering, and creative arts. These are the skills that we see as vital to our boys’ future success."
– Head of School Chris Day P'12,'13
Summer
“We've never seen anything like this in our camp experiences or our school experiences, and we'll definitely keep coming back.”– Juliette Madan, Summer Session Parent

Watch the testimonial

From the Archives Collection

The Cardigan Archives has a rich collection of media from the School’s past.

As part of Cardigan's 75th Anniversary celebrations, we will be sharing digitized items from our collection throughout 2020-21. We invite you to turn back the clock and visit an earlier era: read a publication, browse through short film clips, or settle in to watch a long-form feature. If this content brings a part of your own Cardigan experience to mind, we hope you will share a reflection with us.

Glimpses of The Point

Short clips from Cardigan’s past, excerpted from archived film.

Coach Jim Marrion, 1983

1983 Eaglebrook Game

Joe Collins in 1984

Joe Collins, 1984

Chapel Curtains, Commencement 1984

Chapel Curtains, 1984

Carol Shelton and Bill Cushman

Shelton honors Cushman

Wakely at Halloween, 1983

Wakely at Halloween

Cardigan Clarion

Cardigan’s first student paper was published only in 1946–47.

Clarion March 1, 1947

Clarion (March 1, 1947)

Cardigan Clarion (March 15, 1947)

Clarion (March 15, 1947)

Clarion, June 1947

Clarion (June 3, 1947)

The Blaze

The first issue of the Cardigan Mountain School yearbook was printed in 1958.

Blaze 1958

Blaze 1958

Blaze 1959

Blaze 1959

Blaze 1960

Blaze 1960

Blaze 1961

Blaze 1961

Blaze 1962

Blaze 1962

Blaze 1963

Blaze 1963

Cardigan Chronicle

Cardigan’s school magazine began as a student newspaper, but was later shared with the broader School community.

Cardigan Chronicle

October, 1950

Cardigan Chronicle

October, 1951

Cardigan Chronicle

December, 1951

Cardigan Chronicle

February, 1952

Cardigan Chronicle

June, 1952

Cardigan Chronicle

February, 1953

Image Galleries

By decade:

1945-1954

1955-1964

1965-1974

Full history:

Cardigan’s Heads of School

William R. Brewster — William R. Brewster
An experienced headmaster from Kimball Union Academy, William R. Brewster helped found Cardigan in 1945 and served as both trustee and incorporator during his lifetime. He was the School's first headmaster (1946-47) and served again as interim head in the fall of 1955. He appears at the far right of this photo from 1950.

Portrait of Robert M. Kimball with his wife Virginia. He was Cardigan Headmaster 1947-50. — Robert M. Kimball
Robert M. Kimball, pictured with wife Virginia Akins Kimball, was Cardigan's second headmaster and its first residential headmaster. During his tenure (1947-50) Kimball increased the young School's visibility, and underscored the impact of active and outdoor learning on boys' academic success.

The Kimballs pose with six members of the Cardigan faculty. — The Kimballs with faculty
In this 1948 photo, the Kimballs and a young faculty group pose in front of The Lodge on Canaan Street. [Clockwise from top left: Jack Heagy, Bob Kimball, Virginia Kimball, Ted Peach, Tony Farrell, Cathy Farrell, Dolly Peach, and Dan Fleetham.]

Dutch Clark poses with his wife Patsy and daughters Margaret and Shirley. — Wilfred W. "Dutch" Clark
Headmaster Wilfred W. "Dutch" Clark (1950-55) was described by founder Hap Hinman as a "live wire headmaster." He and wife Patsy (nee Gladys Greer) are pictured here with daughters Margaret (AKA "Buzzy"), and Shirley.

Headmaster Dutch Clark poses with two students on the front porch of the Lodge. — Dutch Clark
Pictured here in 1952 on the porch of The Lodge, headmaster Clark oversaw increased enrollment, a merger with Hanover's Clark School, and the long-awaited move from Canaan Street to The Point.

Headmaster Roland Burbank poses with his wife Constance — Roland W. Burbank
Roland W. Burbank and Constance (Wilson) Burbank served Cardigan from 1955-63. At the beginning of Burbank's tenure, founder Hap Hinman told him "you’ll get a lot of fun out of the job. Most men do in accepting a challenge." The Burbank tenure was marked by both expansion and financial stability.

Headmaster Burbank poses in front of the Cardigan Plymouth with two students — Roland W. Burbank
Burbank's forestry experience helped inform decisions about Cardigan's land use and sustainability, even as a number of key buildings were added to The Point (including Frieze House, Hopkins Hall, French Hall, Proctor House, and the Chapel).

Headmaster Wakely poses with his wife Beverly — Norman C. Wakely
Norman C. Wakely H'91, P'70,'73,'75 (1963-89) served on the faculty under two headmasters before assuming that role himself. Together he and wife Beverly (Bradford) Wakely H'01, P'70,'73,'75 provided leadership and support to three decades of faculty members and impacted the lives of generations of Cardigan boys.

Headmaster Wakely watches the Cardigan lacrosse team from the sidelines — Norman C. Wakely
In 1952 Wakely told a student, "From my first year at Cardigan I have learned that everything cannot be learned from books, and that a great deal is learned from experience." Today, Wakely's catchphrase from later years is still heard regularly on The Point: "It's a beautiful day in New Hampshire!"

Headmaster Chip Dewar poses with his wife Janet. — Dr. Cameron K. "Chip" Dewar
Dr. Cameron K. "Chip" Dewar H'02, P'93 and Janet (Lucas) Dewar P'93 joined Cardigan in 1989. During Dewar's fifteen-year tenure as headmaster, Cardigan deepened programs for academics and technology, student leadership, and service initiatives.

Headmaster Dewar poses with a faculty member and a student — Dr. Cameron K. "Chip" Dewar
During the Dewar era, the board of trustees invited growing numbers of Cardigan's maturing alumni pool to serve the School. Offering experience from a breadth of regions, countries, and industries, these individuals reflected the strength of Cardigan's growing global community.

Headmaster Funnell is pictured with his wife Margaret and their oldest son Sam — James H. "Jamie" Funnell
James H. "Jamie" Funnell H'09 P'07,'09 was a seasoned (and beloved) faculty member and administrator when he became interim headmaster in 2004-05. He is pictured here in 2011 with wife Dr. Margaret (Grimes) Funnell P'07,'09 and their oldest son Sam '07.

Headmaster Funnell helps teach science class — James H. "Jamie" Funnell
Funnell's leadership was rooted in deep knowledge of every aspect of school life, enabling Cardigan to thrive during a transition year. He continued on at the School until 2011, providing exceptional support for two more Cardigan headmasters.

Portrait of Headmaster Needham — Thomas W. Needham
Cardigan's eighth headmaster was Thomas W. Needham, who served the School for two years (2005-07). While his tenure was cut short by ill health, milestones included a new health center and the first steps taken to establish a now-thriving Gates program.

Headmaster Needham pictured with his wife Wendy — Thomas W. Needham
Pictured here in 2005 with wife Wendy (Dexter) Needham, headmaster Needham once said that Cardigan embodies an observation by Yeats: "Education is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire."

The Point Through the Years

Aerial photo of The Point after the hurricane of 1938 — 1938
Taken after the hurricane of 1938, this image shows the Haffenreffer Mansion (now Clark-Morgan Hall) standing amidst flattened trees on The Point. Cardigan Mountain School would purchase the property from Dartmouth College in April, 1945.

Taken in 1954, this image shows Clark-Morgan Hall, Hayward Hall and Brewster Hall under construction — 1954
Cardigan boys always spent time on The Point, but classes and dormitories weren't relocated there from Canaan Street until after Cardigan's merger with Clark School in October, 1953. This image, taken the following fall, shows a renovated Clark-Morgan Hall, a new Hayward Hall (with dining hall), and Brewster Hall under construction.

Taken in 1962, this photo shows that Hinman, Hopkins, and French Halls have been added to The Point — 1962
By the time this photo was taken in 1962, Cardigan had added Hinman, Hopkins, and French Halls to The Point. The School also built Frieze House, a new home for Cardigan's headmaster and family, in 1956.

Taken in 1965, this shows the addition of the Chapel and new athletic fields — 1965
The iconic Chapel was in place by 1965, and new athletic fields had been cleared for use by Cardigan's teams.

Taken in 1968, this photo shows the addition of the Kennerson Athletic Center and Turner Arena — 1968
Visible in this 1968 image are Kenerson Athletic Center and Turner Arena, major additions to Cardigan's facilities. Around this period Cardigan added several more residences on Back Bay Road and Prospect Hill Road (including Newton, Stowell, Ovilla, and Howe Houses).

Taken in 1985, this photo shows the addition of the Kennerson Social & Athletic Center and the Stoddard Center — 1985
With faculty housing remaining a priority, the 1970s saw the addition of Banks, Greenwood, and Franklin Houses. This 1985 image also shows the Kenerson Social & Athletic Center (built in 1977) and the Stoddard Center (built in 1982), both of which were critical new resources for supporting student life on The Point.

This 2003 photo shows the addition of Bronfman Hall and Funnell and Dewar Houses — 2003
By 2003, major investments in the academic program at Cardigan were both visible (Bronfman Hall, and Funnell and Dewar Houses) and less visible (major new technology infrastructure connecting the campus). New paths, roadways, and athletic fields and facilities also shaped life on The Point.

This 2013 photo shows the addition of Cardigan Commons — 2013
The addition of Cardigan Commons in 2013 enabled the full community to gather throughout the year for meals, celebrations, and other occasions integral to school life. The same year saw major improvements to athletic facilities. However, this photo was taken before the addition of McCusker Hall at the foot of Marrion Athletic Fields in 2016.

Aerial photo of Wallach, a major investment in Cardigan's academic program — 2019
Today, Wallach's construction between the Chapel and Stoddard Center is another major investment in Cardigan's academic program. The new building is helping to form an academic quad that will support coming generations of Cardigan boys.

Cardigan Traditions

A 1948 photo of Cardigan boys at the summit of Mt. Cardigan — Respect the Climb
Cardigan's longest-held tradition is to embrace the natural beauty found all around the School. When this picture was taken (circa 1948), school groups tried to summit nearby Mt. Cardigan at least once every two weeks, all year round. Today, all boys bookend their Cardigan experience with a Dawn and Sunset Climb of our namesake mountain.

Cardigan boys enjoying lunch at a picnic table with Headmaster Roland Burbank — Mountain Day
Boys eagerly take in some refreshment after Cardigan's first annual "Mountain Day" in 1958, sharing a picnic table with headmaster Roland Burbank (at right).

Contestants in the 1972 Cardigan spelling bee — Spelling Bee
In the 1950s, spelling bee finals were held during Parents Weekend, and winners got to see a movie in town. Later winners received a plaque, and competed in the Hinman auditorium (shown here in 1972). Today the tradition is maintained each year in Humann Theatre.

Four Cardigan boys on a ride at the Sandwich Fair — Sandwich Fair
Whenever possible, Cardigan boys like these students in 1950 enjoyed trips to the Sandwich Fair. However, it was headmaster Norm Wakely who made the outing an annual Founder's Day tradition (it was to celebrate a clean sweep during Eaglebrook Day in 1973-74!).

A 1964 photo of a pole vault during the Green & White Day — Green & White
1959 ushered in a new era of intramural competition between the Green and White teams. Points are still won through a mix of athletic, academic, and sometimes downright silly competitions (shown here is a pole vaulter competing in 1964's Green & White Day).

This 1965 photo shows Cardigan boys building snow scultures — Winter at Cardigan
Using the natural resources available, generations of Cardigan boys have created snow sculptures for fun and glory. Here, boys struggle against the elements to shape their 1965 creation in time for judging on Parents' Weekend.

A 1981 photo of Cardigan boys participating in the annual lake run — Lake Run
As early as 1951, all the boys in the school would run around Canaan Street Lake (a distance of just under five miles) to test their own abilities. The tradition was resurrected around 1979, two years before this picture was taken, and remains an annual Cardigan tradition.

Eight Cardigan graduates show off their alumni ties — Alumni Tie
Even before classes and dormitories had moved from Canaan Street to The Point, boys were wearing the familiar striped ties for Commencement (excepting a brief period when the supply chain was interrupted). Today, receiving the tie is a rite of passage for all graduates -- and also for a select group of honorary alumni.

Written Histories

History of Canaan, New Hampshire (1910)

History of Canaan (1910)

Cardigan History 1995

Cardigan Mountain School History, 1945–1995

Films of Cardigan Life

Promotional film (circa 1984)

Promotional film (c1984)

Cardigan! (1969 Film)

Cardigan! (1969)

Search the Cardigan Archives

Upcoming 75th Events

May 16 2021

Cardigan's 75th Commencement