Dear editor:

Thank you for your article on Willowbank School of Restoration Arts in The Lake Report on Sept. 6 and welcoming all to the 20th anniversary open house on Sept. 19.

I would like to expand on the history of Willowbank in its 12.4 acres.

Alexander and Hannah Jarvis Hamilton contracted John Latshaw to build Willowbank in 1834 and they moved into the property with six children in 1836 (five more children would join them later).

Laura Dodson — head of NOTL Conservancy — raised the alarm of possible demolition of the unsold property and interested Mary Bright Urban and Thomas Nelson Urban, who contributed $1.3 million to add to the $500,000 of the Dodsons to buy Willowbank in 2002.

Mary was the niece of John and Dorothy Bright who had bought Willowbank in 1934. The Bright Urbans wished Willowbank to be for public use. Laura Dodson wished to start a school for heritage preservation.

Architect Victor Tarnoy and others volunteered curriculum. Heritage architect Julian Smith expanded the school nationally and internationally. We have full fire suppression since 2018.

What a wonderful success story in contrast to the targeted arson of Glencairn Hall on the parkway. Glencairn was built for John Hamilton (Alexander’s youngest step-brother) in 1832 by John Latshaw, which inspired Alexander. I hope that police can bring the arsonists to justice.

Elizabeth Oliver-Malone
NOTL