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In 1956, a record 640 prospective freshman applied to Salem Teachers College for their 260 open spots. At 850 students, Salem had the second largest student body of a teachers college in the state. To keep up with the growing demand, the college had begun holding classes in alternative locations such as the cafeteria, auditorium, and the adjacent Horace Mann Training School. The executive committee of the Massachusetts State Teachers College Alumni Federation quickly recommended that funds be secured for the “long-delayed construction of new buildings.” Two weeks later, President Frederick A. Meier sent a letter to Salem Alumni and Friends of Salem Teachers College outlining a proposed expansion of North Campus. President Meier stated that not only was the new Administration Building nearing completion, but the college had plans for two new buildings and a tennis court. Included with the letter was a drawing of the proposed plan, which showed an existing building labeled “Emmerton Estate.”
The estate of Alice Fidelia Emmerton at 376 Lafayette Street was a colonial mansion that sat on three acres of land. Alice was the daughter of Almy’s department store founder, James Fergus Almy, who opened his first store on Essex Street in 1858. The Almy family invested in more than 100 acres of land in South Salem, when in 1867, they partnered on the purchase of the former Derby Farm from heirs of Elias Hasket Derby. Around 1917, Alice married electrician Donald S. Emmerton, and the couple welcomed their only child, Donald S. Emmerton, Jr. the following year. Alice eventually inherited several properties in South Salem from her parents and the Emmerton family chose to reside at 376 Lafayette Street.
According to an appraisal requested by Salem Teachers College, the oldest portion of the Emmerton Estate was designed under the supervision of architect Samuel McIntire around 1790-1800, with later additions. At the time of the appraisal, the 5,000 square foot, thirteen room mansion was being used as a nursing home.
The appraiser stated: “Where in its day the subject was one of the finest types of private residence that existed in Salem, the passing of time has brought such changes that, measured by the standards of present day living, the subject can no longer be considered as a highly desirable private home… private or public institutional use is believed to be its most probable best use.”
Despite initial plans to utilize the stately home as part of the campus expansion, the college ultimately demolished the Emmerton Estate, replacing it with Meier Hall in 1964.
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