Published: 5/1/2019 11:17:35 PM
NORTHFIELD — Two historic sites at the southeast corner of the Northfield campus are now under stewardship of the Moody Center, completing the organization’s consolidation of the Dwight L. Moody-relevant properties along the southern strip of the campus.
The purpose of the Moody Center is to preserve the history of Dwight L. Moody, a 19th century Evangelical Christian preacher born in Northfield. In the last few decades of his life, Moody traveled the world and gained a reputation for reportedly drawing crowds of several thousand at a time. He maintained a base of operations in Northfield that was a destination in itself, and he founded the two schools that later combined to become Northfield Mount Hermon.
On Tuesday the Moody Center signed paperwork for the house where Moody was born (on the corner of Moody Street and Winchester Road) and his burial site outside the house, “Round Top.” The house comes with a room full of Moody’s personal artifacts. Eventually the house will be open to visitors, but an opening date has yet to be announced, said Moody Center President Emmitt Mitchell.
“It’s a very important part of the Moody story,” Mitchell said.
The house is owned by Northfield Mount Hermon School, which moved from the Northfield campus to its current Gill location in 2005. The burial site is owned partially by Northfield Mount Hermon and partially by David Powell, a great-grandson of Moody and a board member of the Moody Center.
Representatives from the Moody Center and Northfield Mount Hermon characterized the agreement as a “stewardship” arrangement. Total ownership of the sites will transfer to the Moody Center after 3 ½ years, said Moody Center President Mitchell.
The Moody Center’s plan for the house is to open it to the public for tours, although an opening date has not yet been determined due to ongoing restoration work, Mitchell said. While it has previously been possible to arrange a visit to the house through Northfield Mount Hermon, the Moody Center hopes to make it more easily accessible, Mitchell said.
Separately, the personal artifacts in the house will eventually be on display in a museum-like setting, Mitchell said. But a timeframe for that plan is not yet determined either.
Reach Max Marcus at
mmarcus@recorder.com
or 413-772-0261 ex 261.