To the editor:
Arlene Cole’s June 2 “Newcastle History” column about Nelson W. Bailey brought back wonderful memories of Mr. Bailey as well as of the academy in a different era.
Mr. Bailey, as he was respectfully known, was a quiet but resolute presence who presided over a student body enriched not just by him and an outstanding faculty, but also by palpable history permeating every nook and cranny of the original building and its first addition.
We understood that we walked in the footsteps of generations of youths whose lives and sensibilities were influenced by the history of the region and its most venerable institution. We embraced an inherited history passed on to us by those generations.
Mr. Bailey personified that history, as had his predecessor, Mr. Clunie. He understood the legacy that had been entrusted to him and carried out its responsibilities admirably. He truly was the embodiment of what Lincoln Academy was and remains.
A special thanks to Arlene Cole for keeping Newcastle history alive. She and her husband George were my neighbors on Academy Hill. No one cherishes Newcastle or LA more than Arlene!
