Lee outlines ‘proud history’

HARVARD — Representing the Bromfield Trustees, which awarded five scholarships this year, John Lee said at the June 5 graduation that Harvard “tried” to establish a high school for a long time before finally graduating its first, five-member class from The Bromfield School 136 years ago.

He sketched the history during Bromfield’s graduation ceremony June 5, underscoring the importance of the trust’s long-standing relationship to the school.

In the late 1800s, Mary Whitney left $1,000 to help start a high school, followed by a $4,000 donation from Margaret Bromfield Blanchard, along with family land.

With $5,000 and land to build on, Town Meeting first accepted the gifts and endorsed the project, then changed its mind, Lee said.

But Mrs. Blanchard persisted. She had the school built herself on the site of her father’s former home. The handsome brick building known as “Old Bromfield” with its antique fixtures and architecture has now been repurposed as part of the town’s new library.

Blanchard ran the first high school herself. After her death, the Bromfield Trustees took over and ran the high school for the town for 65 years.

Then, for another 70 years, after turning the high school over to the town, the trustees used Trust proceeds to provide scholarships.

“That tradition continues,” Lee said.