The Return of the Rough-House
Anonymous $10-million bequest to rebuild "Thacher's most dangerous building."
Thanks to the generosity of a Thacher graduate, future generations of Thacher students will experience the Rough-House, the one-of-a-kind structure removed from the Thacher campus by county order back in the 1970s due to its lack of compliance with safety codes and basic tenets of common sense.
The $10-million gift was an anonymous bequest from a Thacher graduate of the 1940s. Along with the funds come detailed instructions and meticulously drawn architectural renderings with the clear goal of faithfully replicating the legendary structure and all of its many hazards. Though little is known about the donor's motivations, there are some clues in the wording of the bequest, which states, "You can praise people and horses all you want, but we all know gravity is the best teacher."
Originally built in 1906, the Rough-House was essentially a barn-sized jungle gym, equipped with ropes, ramps, chutes, and ladders. The invention of Sherman Day Thacher, it was conceived as the ideal venue for boys to vent their adolescent steam. In the words of Mr. Thacher himself, "The appearance of the Rough-House in active use is as of a hypertrophied monkey cage. It removes all doubts of the theory of evolution from the open mind."
In addition to covering construction expenses, the gift will endow an account to underwrite the substantial anticipated insurance premiums and legal fees. “The structure itself is little more than an enclosed jungle gym on steroids,” explained Brandon Doyle, director of development. “The real cost is in protecting the School from the inevitable lawsuits.” The School has also opened a search for a full time orthopedist to join the Health Center staff.
“Sure, a couple of our more cautious board members have questioned the wisdom of having such a contraption on campus,” beamed Head of School Michael K. Mulligan. “But, as I told them, there is no true fulfillment without true risk. Plus, it’s about time we put the loco back into in loco parentis.”
Ed. Note: Happy April Fools' Day!
Ed. Note: Happy April Fools' Day!
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A college preparatory boarding school for grades 9-12
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