Cottage-style living A movement towards what was referred to as cottage-style living started in 1889 by the New York Association after the change to Mount Holyoke Seminary and College. $15,000 was raised, and plans were put in place for Mary Brigham Cottage, with accommodations for the president and thirty students, with priority given to those in the collegiate course. At the time, two South Hadley families agreed to host boarders. President Elizabeth Mead deemed these options unsatisfactory and pushed the trustees to build yet another cottage. Mrs. Mead was ready to relieve the students of a large share of the drudgery of domestic work that had made up a good portion of their studies since Mary Lyon's conception of the seminary. From 1895 to 1996 the trustees allotted funds for the employment of four women to wash the dinner dishes that had formerly constituted the task of eight or ten students.
cottagE-style LivIng a movEmenT TOWARds wHAt Was rEFerREd To aS cottage-stylE LiVing startEd In 1889 bY thE New YoRk assoCiatioN afTeR The chaNge to mounT holyokE Seminary and coLLEGe. $15,000 was rAisED, anD pLans wERe put in pLAce for Mary brIgHam cOttagE, wiTH accOMmOdaTionS FoR The PreSidENt ANd ThIrTY students, with pRiorIty giVEn To tHoSe in THe COlLEgiatE cOUrse. at tHE TIMe, tWo soutH hadley FamIliES AgReeD To host bOarDerS. pREsidEnt eliZabeTH meaD deemEd ThEse optiOns uNsAtISfaCtoRy And pusHeD tHE trUsTeEs tO BuILd YEt anOtheR cottage. MrS. mEAD waS reAdy to ReLiEve the StudenTs of a laRge share Of the drUdGerY of DoMestIc work ThAT had MADe up a gOod poRTion of their stUdies sinCe MARY lYON'S coNcEpTIon of THe semiNAry. From 1895 to 1996 the TRuStees alLottED fuNds for The Employment oF FouR Women TO Wash tHe dinner dishes thAt hAd Formerly COnstItuTEd the TAsk of eight Or Ten studenTs.