This summer, Northampton lost a piece of its history. Smith College demolished the gardener’s house on the Lyman Estate. Residents will regret the loss of a fine home. Historians will regret the loss of part of the storied Whitmarsh and Lyman enterprises. But I lost my house.
Smith acquired the Lyman Estate in 1946 and rented the gardener’s house to faculty. My dad taught at Smith; we moved into the house when I was born and moved out when I was 17.
I hadn’t been back since, so a few weeks ago, my brother and I went over to say goodbye. Finding an unlocked door, we went inside. We walked over carpet squishy with damp and stared at jagged gaps where sheetrock had rotted out. Finally, we reached the library.
Standing beside the spiral staircase, we gazed up at the balcony and skylight. Even with all the shelves empty, and puddles on the floor, the room glowed, peaceful and harmonious. Saddened, we went outside. I remember playing endlessly there: hide-and-go seek among the shrubs, soldiers atop the piles of leaves, ball games in the big field, and escapades in the woods. Not possible there today. Few plants are being grown and the field and woods are clogged with debris, including an armada of rusting dumpsters.
Smith College has spoiled this beautiful place so close to the town’s center and its history; they have trashed the grounds and took such poor care of the house that destruction became inevitable. Why? Are we so endowed with old houses and parks that we can be profligate? Northampton should demand answers.
Tobias Baskin
Professor, Biology Department, University of Massachusetts
Amherst