On a recent sunny spring afternoon, I had the opportunity to meet with Hamilton’s President Joan Hinde Stewart at her home at 11 College Hill Road. How many of us drive up the hill each day and stare at the house, a charming combination of a rustic cottage and Queen Anne style? But let’s face it: no one really gets to see much more than this routine view except for seniors who gather there for concentration dinners and brunches. Here’s a private look inside the house.
In 1910, Hamilton’s Professor of Law, Frederick Davenport, built the house to be used as his family’s summer home. The summer cottage provided the Davenport family with over forty years of leisure and tranquility until 1955 when the professor gave the house to President Robert McEwen as the new official abode for the college’s President. For over half a century, the house’s inhabitants have worked with the college to keep it impeccably maintained so that its proud history can be kept alive.
My first surprise was a carriage house near the back entrance. And before even introducing myself to President Stewart, I met the famous Elihu Vedder statue “Fountain with Standing Boy.” Vedder originally created the fountain and its statue for the Rogers Estate back when its patio was used for more stately purposes. The statue is so beloved that Physical Plant encases it with plexi-glass to protect it from the severe Clinton winters.
The interior aesthetic is even more impressive than the exterior. The sitting room is spacious and welcoming. Its natural tones and classic appeal direct focus to the many pieces of artwork that adorn the room. It is not commonly known to the student body that Hamilton’s president has unlimited pemission to borrow art from the Emerson Gallery to display in the house. President Stewart typically decorates the house with classical and 19th century art, but ultimately she prefers works that hold meaning for the college.
One such piece, her most cherished work of art in the house, rests above the mantel: a portrait of Samuel Kirkland. Painted posthumously in 1873 by Augustus Rockwell, the painting illustrates the lasting legacy of Kirkland, who died in 1808. Atop two bookcases stand several Romantic 19th century bronze statues by Antoine Bayre. President Stewart also shares her home with an elderly inhabitant: a fantastically grown Christmas cactus that is over fifteen years old. It has been in the house longer than President Stewart and even has its own caretaker! Next to the cactus is an elegant piano that was built in 1928. After many years of both love and abuse, the college gave President Stewart the piano because its keys could not take any more long hours of practicing.
“I truly love this house. My greatest hope is that it is comfortable and welcoming for the community which so generously allows me to live in it.”
My favorite room in the house is the grand kitchen. Done in a dark, warm mahogany and red, the room is invigorating with its Provincial-style hanging pots and pans rack and expansive Viking stove. Best of all, President Stewart has a plasma TV, so she can watch any of her favorite black and white films while she dines on whatever specialty her culinary enthusiast husband concocts for dinner. It is endearing to know that after a long day’s work, President Stewart enjoys these smaller pleasures.
One thing is certain: President Stewart has many passions and luckily, they incorporate into her multifaceted role at Hamilton. President Stewart states that her two passions are higher education and 18th century French literature and remarkably, she is able to integrate these great loves into her life on the Hill. President Stewart’s class with Professor of English John O’Neill explores 18th century French and English literature. President Stewart reflects, “The student response to the coursework is so enriching. I am able to read through the lens of student familiarity, which is one of the most gratifying aspects of my job.” 18th century French literature is alluring to her because it was not a part of the era’s literary canon—its acclaim is very recent. President Stewart is devoted to furthering her scholarly career through raising the awareness of often overlooked, immensely gifted female French writers. President Stewart recently announced that she will take a sabbatical next spring to immerse herself in research of these writers, exploring the correspondences between the female writers’ aging processes at a time when only 10% of the female population lived past the age of sixty.
President Stewart’s love of all things French is evident in the small touches that make up her home. A blue and white Provincial tile proudly displays her address next to the back entryway. A vibrant painting evoking the Impressionist style, “The Tuileries” by John Supplee ’69, hangs over the staircase and reinforces President Stewart’s love of French spirit. Adjacent to the magnificent painting is a 19th century French parasol President Stewart found at an antique store. President Stewart has also purchased two tranquil Bruce Muirhead paintings, which are done in a trompe l’oeil style. These paintings pull together the old and new pieces of art throughout the house.
President Stewart’s taste also has remarkably snazzy touches. She is self-proclaimed “chandelier-obsessed” because they instantly jazz up any room. She has installed two whimsical chandeliers, one in the foyer and the other in the dining room. President Stewart’s collection of hand-painted eggs also reveals her eccentric taste, and allows her to commemorate the countries she travels to. These small yet personal touches blend perfectly with the house’s classic aesthetic.
President Stewart remarks, “I do not want anything too idiosyncratic in the house because the privilege of living here is merely a mandate from the College to be a good steward.” President Stewart continually emphasizes that her greatest disappointment would be letting the College down if she made the house too reflective of her personal tastes. She is committed to restoring the historical aspects, like the portico that was rebuilt last summer, and the home’s antiques. She admits, “I truly love this house. My greatest hope is that it is comfortable and welcoming for the community which so generously allows me to live in it.”
-jenna fain '09
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