Throughout The Storm King School’s 150-year history, the impact of its headmasters on the School’s legacy is evident, especially that of our third headmaster Dr. Carlos H. Stone. Upon acquiring the Cornwall Heights School from its second headmaster Oren Cobb in September of 1887, Dr. Stone immediately set out on his mission of increasing enrollment, expanding the campus, and further developing the School’s academic program. Under the strong leadership and undying vision of Dr. Stone, the small homeschool established by Louis P. Ledoux 20 years earlier cemented its reputation as a leading academic institution in the region- a reputation the School still benefits from today.

 

 

By the second year of his 29-year tenure, Stone had already succeeded in acquiring new acreage, refurbishing several buildings on campus and adding modern amenities such as steam heating.  His improvements created momentum and as a result, the early 1900s saw not only the expansion of the campus and facilities, but the diversification of student life through school publications, activities, and athletics.

For example, The Echo, a precursor to The Quarry and today’s The Voice newspaper, made its first appearance in 1900. In 1903, the performing arts came into focus with the formation of a student theater group called the Cornwall Heights Dramatics Club, later known as the Players Club. The School’s first yearbook, called The Jabberwocky, was published in 1911 and reflected athletics and student life, with football, tennis, baseball, and ice hockey being the sports of the day.

 

 

Affectionately called “Doc” by his students, Dr. Stone had a knack for promoting the School to prospective families using descriptive language which highlighted the School’s location and the beauty of its natural surroundings. A brochure of the Stone School describes it as a place “where a boy may live simply and sensibly, and develop naturally, surrounded by beautiful nature, where he may learn to do for himself and may acquire a real sense of the fundamental things of life.” Also a minister, Dr. Stone often took advantage of his contacts in religious circles, placing advertisements for “the homeschool on Storm King Mountain that prepares boys for college and business” in publications of the time such as the New York Observer and The Christian Union.

After all Dr. Stone had accomplished, the School’s name was changed from Cornwall Heights to the Stone School in 1912. One of Stone’s most significant and lasting legacies followed soon after in 1914 when the Stone School became incorporated under New York State law. For the next two years, Stone continued to serve the School until he passed the headmastership to Alvan Duerr in 1916, a year before the School’s 50th anniversary.