News &

April 23, 2016

On Saturday, April 23rd Dublin School in Dublin, New Hampshire officially opened and dedicated their new crew boathouse on Thorndike Pond. Alumni parent and current Dublin School Trustee Timothy Steele, owner of the Microspec Corporation in Peterborough, NH, informed Head of School Brad Bates two years ago that he wanted to donate the funds for a new boathouse to support the growing popularity and success of the sport at Dublin. Mr. Steele comes from a family of rowers, and he was thrilled that his two children rowed while enrolled at Dublin. According to Bates, “I was humbled and inspired by Mr. Steele’s vision for our crew team. He clearly understands how transformative a sport like rowing can be for a young person. Dublin’s coaches helped his own children grow into confident, responsible, collaborative and successful young adults.”

When looking for property on which to build the boathouse, Dublin School found a willing partner in the Boy Scouts of America’s Nashua Valley Council. Bates called Executive Director Gary Savignano about the idea of building a boathouse on the Council’s Camp Wanocksett property in the town of Dublin, and Savignano saw immediate benefits to a collaboration. The Steele Family Boathouse gives the camp a large upstairs meeting space and access to the boathouse in the summer when Dublin School is not in session. Dublin School will have access to the boathouse during the fall and spring rowing seasons. According to Bates, “We could not have asked for better partners in this project than the Nashua Valley Council. It is exciting when you can form a win—win partnership such as this one. Camp Wanocksett’s existing infrastructure saved us from having to build parking lots, bathrooms, docks and race viewing areas. I feel strongly that this is a great model for other camps and rowing programs around the country.”

Dublin School hired Dan Scully of Scully Architects to design the boathouse and Isaac Traffie of A 61 Construction to build it in partnership with Andy Hungerford, Dublin School’s Director of Buildings and Grounds. The design of the boathouse allows for the storage of twenty-four boats. Dublin races four oared shells in regional and national competitions. They have dominated the Granite State Championships over the last few years, and their boys’ lightweight four won the National Scholastic Regatta last spring and qualified for the US Rowing National Championships in Florida last June. Rowing is part of the School’s larger Endurance Program which offers the students the opportunity to run or bike in the fall, cross country ski in the winter, and row in the spring. The Endurance Program encourages student athletes to try different sports while building excellent fitness throughout the year.

At the boathouse dedication Bates thanked former coaches Caleb Davis and Rich Connell for helping to create the popular program over the last decade. He also introduced current coaches Blair Granum and Katie Curtis and announced the hiring of new coach Lindsay Brown, who will be moving to Dublin in July after a very successful thirty-year coaching career at the St. Andrew’s School in Delaware. Bates presented the Steele Family with replica Dublin oars to thank them for their support of Dublin rowing.

Dublin School is an independent boarding and day school with 154 students located 90 minutes from Boston. The Steele boathouse is located three miles from campus on the flanks of the beautiful Mount Monadnock. The lake is approximately a mile and a half long.

Article featured on Dublin School
https://www.dublinschool.org/consolidated-blog/2016/4/29/dublin-school-dedicates-steele-family-boathouse