Spring 2007 - Milton Academy

Post ScriptA Milton ReconnectA family history, intertwined with Milton over decades, leads to a 21st century commitmentNow comfortably postured in my septuagenarianyears in the relaxed style ofSavannah, Georgia, I thought it might betime to re-read my late grandmother’smemoirs; reflect on what Milton Academywas like back in the beginning of the 20thcentury; and consider what Milton meantto our family.My grandfather graduated from HarvardCollege in 1885, and upon graduationtaught school for a short time before theallure of higher financial rewards attractedhim to enroll in Harvard Law School.After graduating and joining a law firm,it did not take long before he developedan unpleasant distaste in suing people.He then realized that the most satisfyingemployment for him was teaching classics.Thus began his Milton Academy career.By the early 20th century, grandfatherWard was happily married, enjoying anexpanding family, when tragedy struck.My namesake and father, Andrew H.Ward, was only two weeks old in 1907when his mother died. Over the next fiveyears, three little girls and their youngerbrother were cared for by a gray-haired,stately German lady, affectionately nicknamedMini, who served as housekeeper,hostess, nurse, governess, seamstress andmusic teacher. This kindly, competent ladydid a good job under the prevailing circumstances,but the pressure of grandfather’steaching job, his many services tothe town of Milton, coupled with his conscientiousefforts to uphold his duties byhis four children, were becoming a severestrain. Near the end of those five difficultand lonely years after his wife’s death, hisown health began to suffer.In 1912, Emily Locke, the lifelong collegefriend of the children’s mother and frequentvisitor to the household, marriedgrandfather Ward, realizing full well thather new husband’s days were marked.Shortly thereafter, little Andy summed upthe situation pretty well as he climbed intohis new stepmother’s lap one day whenshe was receiving a caller, patting hercheek and explaining to the visitor, “This isour new little mother. We haven’t had hervery long. Now I have three mothers—Mother-in-Heaven, Mini and you.”When grandfather Ward’s illness becamemore pronounced, a group of MiltonAcademy trustees headed by P. E. Forbesand N. P. Hallowell raised a trust fund andexplained that it was mainly for the futureeducation of the children. As a crowningblessing, the trustees granted free educationto the children and upgraded the 127Centre Street house on school grounds foruse until such time as the children becameself-supporting. The kindness and generosityof grandfather’s friends was overwhelmingand greatly appreciated.Milton Academy was also very consideratewith scholarships to our family’s nextgeneration that attended this wonderfulMilton institution. Accordingly, at thispoint in my life, the very least that I can dois fund a day school scholarship. One thirdof the funds have already been supplied tothe School, while the balance is in a segregatedportion of my IRA. I will managethose IRA assets over the next three yearsbefore depositing the balance with theSchool endowment.I believe in an active, individualistic lifewhere learning is a daily adventure.Hopefully, this scholarship will providesomeone else with the same opportunity.Change is constant, but Milton Academyhas adapted without sacrificing principlesor values.Andy Ward ’51Andy Ward ’51 and his wife, Elizabeth44 Milton Magazine