Head of School INNSider: April 2025

Dear SCH Community,

I have always been fascinated by living landmarks and fond of beautiful things. As head of school, one of my simple pleasures is walking into the Wissahickon Inn where the echoes of the past, the energy of the present, and the promise of the future converge in a single space. It’s remarkable that the Wissahickon Inn, which opened in 1884 as a 200-room summer resort, now serves as the home of our Upper School. 

Paul Hines H’03, former history teacher at Chestnut Hill Academy/Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, captures the charm of the Wissahickon Inn in The Lure of the Wissahickon Inn. Its red roof and elegant turrets, which first welcomed summer guests in 1884, now stand as a daily reminder to our Upper School students that they are part of a living, breathing legacy. Built by Henry Howard Houston as a getaway for Philadelphians, the Inn was the crown jewel of the Chestnut Hill landscape. In the 1880s and 1890s, the Inn prospered, hosting events like the Philadelphia Horse Show. As occupancy and revenues declined, the Houston and Woodward families sought alternative uses for the Inn. CHA initially used part of the building in the off-season before taking complete control, enrolling both day and boarding students until the mid-1930s.

Occasionally, I have to remind myself of these essential facts about the Inn: how the heart of our campus is not just a structure but a living, breathing testament to adaptation and resilience. It is a privilege for students to experience the Inn’s architectural splendor and charm, and the idea that it has changed to meet emerging needs and new roles in contemporary society.

Coincidentally, this theme of adaptation was brought into sharp relief this spring break when Davirah and I headed to Austin, Texas, a city I once assumed to be an underdog. One high point of our visit was our stay at the Commodore Perry Estate, a historic retreat on a property flush with elegant gardens and dripping with modern grace. Enveloped in the Hyde Park neighborhood, the Commodore Perry Estate is an unexpected sanctuary. Much like the Inn, the Estate still captures the tenor of its time. It blends Gilded Age atmosphere with a timeless elegance, reminding me that spaces, like stories, can be reimagined while preserving their soul. Initially constructed in 1928, the Gatsby-esque property was the former country home of industrialist Edwin Perry and his wife, Lutie. A wellspring of little-known facts, our guide Monica took us through the estate, pointing out notes of this and touches of that on the property. Though some underdeveloped areas needed attention, the property radiated grandeur, craftsmanship, and Texas charm.

What intrigued me most was that this 10-acre retreat, with its French-style sunken garden, once housed several schools. In the 1940s, it was gifted to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Austin and later served as a boarding school for girls and several co-ed schools. Before becoming a hotel destination, the place was nearly sold to investors who planned to raze it and build a medical campus. Though the property survived its prolonged collapse, it fell into disrepair until Clark Lyda intervened. According to Monica, Lyda’s connection to the property began while visiting as a prospective student. He would later research its history for the school newspaper and, notably, graduate as class valedictorian. Years later, that curiosity and drive led him to restore the property, a powerful reminder that honoring the past can be a catalyst for reimagining the future. 

My visit reminded me that evolution, whether in places, people, or institutions, is often imperfect but essential. The transitions of the Wissahickon Inn from a resort to a school, and the Commodore Perry Estate from a private residence to a school and now a serene retreat as of 2020, undoubtedly stirred feelings of loss. Yet, they also paved the way for lasting joy.

Honoring a place’s legacy requires balancing deep respect for its roots with a bold vision for the future. Our strategic framework, Shaping Our Future, develops this theme with a focus on the “Unique SCH Story.” We want every student, teacher, and alum to understand and amplify our ethos, reconciling tradition and innovation to have them converge effectively. 

At SCH, we must acknowledge tradition while innovating, recognizing that not every aspect of either is precious. Just as theater and art are lighthouses for the world and help us access meaning and purpose, tradition and innovation can serve a similar function. My visit reminded me to embrace the past and future thoughtfully. While it also stirred reflections on our layered American history that extend beyond this letter, it left me with a quiet plea: to stay awake and alive, curious and captivated by the stories around us, to wonder at the intersection of past and future. We all should, especially during times of profound uncertainty and skepticism. We are all stewards of SCH’s story. May the spaces we leave provide mirrors and windows and offer floors, not ceilings. That would be a beautiful thing.

Sincerely,

Delvin Dinkins
Head of School