31 Highland Road

Historical Narrative: 

The Sumner Smith Ice Rink was constructed in the 1950-1951 school year and was the first ice rink built at a Prep school in America. The rink was originally built as an outdoor venue and named for Sumner Smith Class of 1908 who contributed $54,100 for the construction of the artificial ice rink. He then added another $10,000 to his gift to put in the nine miles of pipe in sand and the Trustees added $10,000 to embed them in concrete.

An arched roof was added in 1958 and the walls remained open but canvas curtains were installed to drop down to enclose the rink from the elements. The rink was reconditioned again in the summer of 1980.

An new indoor rink was built near the site of the old Pearson farm and this rink was decommissioned. It was raised along with the Case Memorial Cage in 2019 for the construction of the new state of the art Athletic fieldhouse facility.

Bibliography/References: 

History from Robert A. Domingue's book "Philips Academy, Andover, Massachusetts, An Illustrated History of the Property (Including Abbot Academy) 1990

Inventory Data:

StreetHighland Rd
PlacePhillips Academy
Historic DistrictAcademy Hill NRH District
Historic NameSumner Smith Rink
Present Useathletic facilities
Original Useathletic facilitiy - ice rink
Construction Date1950s
Architectural StyleOther
FoundationConcrete
Wall/Trimsteel/canvas
Roofasphalt/arched
Major AlterationsRoof added in 1958
ConditionRazed 2019
Demolished?Yes
Demolition Details2019 for new athletic complex
SettingResidential/Educational
Map and parcel41-4
Recorded byBarbara Thibault
OrganizationAndover Historical Society
Date entered11/7/1990

Map: