About Hamden Hall
History
More than a century ago, in the fall of 1912, 17 boys between the ages of 9 and 14 embarked on an all-day pre-preparatory academic program at a stately country day school on Whitney Avenue in Hamden.
It was the fourth such school in the country, boasting the combined benefits of a boarding school experience against the backdrop of home life and family involvement.
The inauguration of Hamden Hall Country Day School was decidedly unique. The school’s mission was “to maintain a fair balance between physical and mental exercise” so that students could develop “good scholarly habits” and “sportsmanlike conduct on the playing field.” Daily lessons were framed by morning prayers and afternoon sports and recreation. The $350 tuition included transportation on the 8:15 a.m. trolley and a school day that extended until 5 p.m.
The inauguration of Hamden Hall Country Day School was decidedly unique. The school’s mission was “to maintain a fair balance between physical and mental exercise” so that students could develop “good scholarly habits” and “sportsmanlike conduct on the playing field.” Daily lessons were framed by morning prayers and afternoon sports and recreation. The $350 tuition included transportation on the 8:15 a.m. trolley and a school day that extended until 5 p.m.
Within a 10-year span, enrollment more than doubled and Hamden Hall’s founder, Dr. John P. Cushing, purchased the spacious school property that had formerly been leased. The Pinehurst Mansion, once the residence of accomplished musician and businessman Morris Steinert and now home to the school’s classrooms, and its expansive estate grounds were officially sold to Hamden Hall Associates, Inc., in June 1927 upon Cushing’s retirement as headmaster.
"The school’s mission was 'to maintain a fair balance between physical and mental exercise' so that students could develop 'good scholarly habits' and 'sportsmanlike conduct on the playing field.'"
In the fall of 1927 came another first for the fledgling school. Hamden Hall went coed, and as such was the first of its kind among country day schools in New England. The school’s mission was also enhanced by two new ideologies: social development and an emphasis on individual growth, as introduced by Hamden Hall’s second headmaster, Gen. Herbert H. Vreeland Jr. “Probably more than at any time in the past, modern youth needs to have developed a social consciousness and a sense of individual responsibility for the group of which he or she is a member,” Vreeland wrote of his vision for the school. “The underlying spirit of Hamden Hall is that of a large family.” During Vreeland’s second year he established a lower school, pre-kindergarten through grade three, housed in a portable classroom that he purchased. Also in 1928 came the formation of the school’s first Parents’ Association – later renamed the Parent-Teachers Association.
By 1935, student population had grown to more than 120 and high school classes had been instituted. The first Hamden Hall graduation exercises commenced in 1937 for five students.
Growth remained steady following those flagship days, in terms of physical size, student population, and academic achievement. Today’s main campus encompasses 12 acres housing nine major buildings. A 30-acre athletic complex lies 1.5 miles north of the main campus and features fields, tennis courts, and a $13 million indoor athletic center. Our third campus, referred to as "The Castle," is a breathtaking Tudor Revival-style mansion built in 1906. The 3.3-acre property overlooks Lake Whitney and has a storied history as the former Lucerne Mansion built by New Haven architects Brown and Von Beren and later purchased by prominent architect Eero Saarinen.
More than 625 students from 50 surrounding communities and six foreign countries thrive in our Early Childhood programs, Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools.
The school also remains as tight-knit in terms of the familial community that was fostered a century ago. In June 2012, the graduating class enjoyed another first in the school's storied history - the Class of 2012, at 82 students, was not only Hamden Hall's Centennial Class but also its largest class to date.
Hamden Hall’s mission continues to challenge students to develop a strong sense of personal integrity and social responsibility while preparing them for demanding academic programs at the collegiate level.
Growth remained steady following those flagship days, in terms of physical size, student population, and academic achievement. Today’s main campus encompasses 12 acres housing nine major buildings. A 30-acre athletic complex lies 1.5 miles north of the main campus and features fields, tennis courts, and a $13 million indoor athletic center. Our third campus, referred to as "The Castle," is a breathtaking Tudor Revival-style mansion built in 1906. The 3.3-acre property overlooks Lake Whitney and has a storied history as the former Lucerne Mansion built by New Haven architects Brown and Von Beren and later purchased by prominent architect Eero Saarinen.
More than 625 students from 50 surrounding communities and six foreign countries thrive in our Early Childhood programs, Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools.
The school also remains as tight-knit in terms of the familial community that was fostered a century ago. In June 2012, the graduating class enjoyed another first in the school's storied history - the Class of 2012, at 82 students, was not only Hamden Hall's Centennial Class but also its largest class to date.
Hamden Hall’s mission continues to challenge students to develop a strong sense of personal integrity and social responsibility while preparing them for demanding academic programs at the collegiate level.
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Hamden Hall 1914-1915
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Class of 1913
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Morning Drills circa 1914
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Class Lessons 1914
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Assembly Room circa 1917
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Cushing Reunion 1919
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Boys of the Gridiron: 1927-1932
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Hamden Hall Crest
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Class of 1928
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Lower School 1934-1935
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Class of 1940
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School Play 1939
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Christmas Pageant 1939
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Mid-Winter Dance 1940
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Dining Hall 1950s
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Valentine Cookie Sale 1957
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Rifle Club 1952
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William Carpenter, Class of 2008
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William Carpenter, Class of 2008
West Point Graduate and Military Justice Advisor, 3rd Infantry Division Office of the United States Army -
Hiram Bingham IV, Founding Student, Class of 1912
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Hiram Bingham IV, Founding Student, Class of 1912
American Diplomat and World War II Hero -
Jonathan Brewster Bingham, Founding Class
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Jonathan Brewster Bingham, Founding Student, Class of 1912
Congressman and Diplomat; US Delegate to the United Nations General Assemblies -
Dr. Benjamin Spock, Class of 1919
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Dr. Benjamin Spock, Class of 1915
Author of the Child-Rearing Guide ‘Baby and Child Care’ and Esteemed Pediatrician -
Dr. Richard Wall Lyman, Class of 1940
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Dr. Richard Wall Lyman, Class of 1940
Educator and President of Stanford University from 1970 to 1980 -
Joy Sundgaard Kaiser, Class of 1947
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Joy Sundgaard Kaiser, Class of 1947
Founder of MESAB, Medical Education for South African Blacks -
Joyce Olson Resnikoff, Class of 1955
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Joyce Olson Resnikoff, Class of 1955
Visionary and Developer of Olde Mistick Village -
Jill Medvedow, Class of 1972
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Jill Medvedow, Class of 1972
Director of the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston -
Jordan Hadelman, Class of 1972
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Jordan Hadelman, Class of 1972
Founding Chairman of Witt/Kieffer -
Michael Barbaro, Class of 1998
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Michael Barbaro, Class of 1998
New York Times Journalist and National Podcaster -
Ross G. Douthat, Class of 1998
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Ross G. Douthat, Class of 1998
New York Times Columnist and Author
We Value Tradition Under the Pines...
Some of our annual traditions - such as our Valentine Bake Sale - date back more than half a century! Formerly called the Valentine Cookie Sale, the event has been a heartfelt tradition since 1942.
Some of our annual traditions include:
- The Valentine Bake Sale
- Lifers' Shirting Ceremony
- The May Pole Assembly
- Community-Wide Stuff A Bus
- World Language Week
- MayFest
- Life is Delicious
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"Hamden Hall Stories": Alumni from Classes in the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s recall their special moments under the pines.
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Hamden Hall Country Day School
1108 Whitney Avenue
Hamden, Connecticut 06517
Phone: 203-752-2600
Fax: 203-752-2651
admissions@hamdenhall.org
Hamden, Connecticut 06517
Phone: 203-752-2600
Fax: 203-752-2651
admissions@hamdenhall.org
About Us
Hamden Hall Country Day School, located less than two miles from Yale University, is one of the best private schools in Connecticut to enroll elementary, middle, and high school students. Our nurturing and inclusive community provides a dynamic learning environment that promotes academic excellence by understanding each child and fostering their individual growth.
