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Why was there a need for such a frenetic surge of building activity? The  answer was that there was a significant  demand growing for the new school in the hills.In 1902 there were 72 children in residence,by 1910 this had risen to 305. Moreover, the children didn’t just come from nearby tea gardens.In 1902 the children came from almost all Provinces of Eastern India,after that from other places like Madras ,Secundrabad, Punjab , Bombay , Bangalore etc.Hardly an area of India was unrepresented

Graham had to build.Interest was growing in his project and he must have felt the need  to propagate the spark of concern he had kindled in various communities across the country. He was not alone in his task, as there was many a supportive voice, ‘The white man’s burden ‘ is not such a one as may be lightly thrown off. The burden of supporting and assisting this community unquestionably rests upon every man who has either made India his temporary home,or who has a stake in the country from which he derives a reserve.

Laidlaw Cottage

On 26th November 1908 Mrs. W.M.Crawford of Darjeeling cut the first sod of the site for the Cottage which Mr.Robert Laidlaw,M.P.,was to build in memory of his mother. Laidlaw Cottage,whichwas to be for boys,would occupy a magnificient site and was the beginning of a new line of cottage,higher up the hill than any built till then.

Eastern Bengal and Assam Cottage

On 6thJuly 1909,the cottage provided by the province of Eastern Bengal and Assam was formally opened by the then Commissioner of Jalpaiguri. The Cottage had been built by funds supplied by the subscribers in the Eastern Province and by the Government.The Home’s Board were grateful for their cooperation and rejoiced in the privilege of being helpful to the Province.

Lucia King Cottage

The Cottage was opened on Foundation day(24th September1910). The cottage was to be used for the smallest children and  will be the training ground for Nursery Nurses. Their training would be somewhat on the lines of that in the Norland Institute, London ,and the object was to prepare a well-equiped class of girls to be children’s nurses.The curriculum proposed was that after passing the 7th Standard,the girls(who already had a thorough training in domestic work in the cottages) should get special training in the following:

(1)   Management of young children;

(2)   Kindergarten teaching so as to be able to begin the education of young children;

(3)   Dressmaking that they may be able to cut out and make children’s clothes.

Scottish Canadian Cottage.

On 23rd December 1912 the Scottish Canadian Cottage was opened.It was a happy selection ,for it embodies the names of two nationalities-the one distinguished for their sterling qualities which ensure success, the other being called the land of promise. This Cottage was made for the boys.

Bhagalpur (Grant) Cottage

The Commissioner of Bhagalpur Division opened the Cottage on 20thOctober 1911,this Cottage was made for boys and were to be occupied by those who were temporarily housed in Lucia King Cottage Bhagalpur(Grant) Cottage is situated furthest up the mountainside of any of The Cottages.  

[To be continued ...........]