One-time home to College founder gets renovated

Renovation of the old Stone House and onetime home of Fayette R. Buell, where he established a private academy that evolved into Western Maryland College, will create a conference facility and an apartment for visiting scholars and lecturers. The house at 205 Pennsylvania Avenue will also serve as the future home of WMC Heritage Society and as a setting for alumni gatherings and historical displays.

In March, the WMC Heritage Society adopted the $300,000 project, one that chairman Don Rembert ’61 says is a natural. Established in 2004, the Society provides a way for alumni to honor the College’s heritage – Western Maryland College was renamed McDaniel College in 2002 – and educate current and future students and faculty on the traditions and history.

“The spirit of Western Maryland College lives on, the memories and shared experience are indelible,” says Rembert. “A song lyric goes ‘memory is a gift a man can’t live without,’ so it is with those who have spent time at our alma mater.”

Rembert, joined by his wife, Judy Ellis ’60, of Reston, Va., helped lead fundraising that supported the publication of the College’s history, “Fearless and Bold” by Jim Lightner ’59, professor emeritus of Mathematics and College Historian. To date, more than 1,000 books have been sold to help support the annual WMC Heritage Society Scholarship.

Buell’s Westminster Male and Female School opened on April 16, 1860, and operated year-round, with terms beginning in April, July, October and January. The tuition was $3 to $7 per quarter, and females could board. It was one of several private schools that operated in area. The College purchased the property in 1950, and it housed two apartments as well as the Golf Clubhouse for a number of years.

It was one of several private schools that operated in the area. To learn more, contact the Alumni Affairs Office at 410-857-2296.