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Buckland, Massachusetts was incorporated in 1799. It was the birthplace of Mary Lyon who founded Mount Holyoke Female Seminary in 1837. Inspired by her own struggles to obtain an education, she worked hard to expand academic opportunities for young women and to prepare them to become teachers. The school started with approximately 80 students, and quickly became a big success. By 1838 about 400 applicants were turned away from the school because there wasn?t enough room. Lyon led the school for 12 years, and during that time, the curriculum grew and new buildings were constructed. The Seminary became Mount Holyoke College in 1895. This house was actually owned by Major Joseph Griswold, a prominent Buckland citizen. When Mary Lyon started teaching, she used the third floor ballroom of this house to teach Latin, science, and history to her female students. This was a unique curriculum because most young women at that time were usually limited to studying subjects such as painting, needlework and music.

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Mary Lyon House, Buckland, Mass.

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