AN Ardglass man who founded one of America’s first public colleges has been commemorated through the naming of a new housing development in the village.
Dr. Thomas Hunter left Ireland in 1850, arriving in New York where he became a successful public school teacher and principal. In 1870, he founded the Normal and High School for Females, which was renamed Hunter College in 1914.
Hunter College, which is based in Manhattan, is part of the City University of New York and caters for 22,000 students.
It is famous for the diversity of its student body and is renowned for providing educational opportunities for women and minorities in pursuit of the ‘American dream’, many of whom are the first in their families to attend third level education.
Dr. Hunter has now been immortalised through the naming of the new Hunter’s Way housing development in Ardglass.
The name for the new housing development was chosen by local schoolgirl Cerys Milligan when she entered a competition hosted by Ark Housing Association in association with her school, St. Nicholas’s Primary School.
Cerys learned about Dr. Hunter from local shopkeeper Michael Howland who told her the story about his educational influence in America.
Cerys researched Dr. Hunter for the competition and discovered that his school was famous for ignoring race, religion and financial circumstances or political views.
“The school today is considered one of the world’s largest urban university systems,” she said.
“Ardglass has lots of people from different countries and different religions living here and I think this would be a great way to honour Dr. Hunter’s memory.”
Cerys was delighted that her choice of name for the Ark development was successful. She won a voucher for a local shop and a certificate, while St. Nicholas’s Primary School received a tree for the eco-garden.
Hunter’s Way has 26 houses, including houses for the elderly. The first phase of the new development is complete and the next phase, which will be known as Hunter’s Close, is currently under planning.