Northwood School was founded in 1905 by John M. Hopkins as the Lake Placid School. For 20 years it used the facilities of the Lake Placid Club. During this time fall and spring was spent in Lake Placid, with the winter term spent at its campus in Florida.
In 1922 Melvil Dewey, the originator of the Dewey Decimal System founded the Lake Placid Club Education Foundation.1 Under Dewey's leadership the Foundation took over the operation of the school in 1925, renaming it Northwood.2 This change marked the end of Northwood's winter migration and in 1928 the school moved into the present school buildings.
In 1934 Northwood School received its charter by the Regents of the State of New York, and made a not for profit institution governed by a Board of Trustees.
Staff
Dr. Ira A. Flinner was the Headmaster of Northwood School for 26 years, from 1925 until 1951. Dr. Flinner successfully implemented the educational vision of Melvil Dewey. Dr. Flinner received his doctorate in education from Harvard University before taking over Northwood.
^ Wiegand, Wayne A. Irrepressible Reformer: A Biography of Melvil Dewey Chicago: American Library Association, 1996. ISBN 0-8389-0680-X
^ Zinmmerman, Kate: Legacies of North American Olympic Winter Games. Volume One: Lake Placid 1980. Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, 2007.
References
Ackerman, David H. Lake Placid Club: An illustrated history: 1895-1980. Lake Placid Education Foundation, 1998. ISBN 0966587502.