Thursday, March 09
To the Editor of THE EAGLE:-

Back in 1952, Rand McNally & Company published the story of Marshall Field & Company, written by Lloyd Wendt and Herman Kogan. The book is entitled "Give the Lady What She Wants!."

In the chapter "Men with Merchant Instinct," the authors describe the local mid-1800s scene during the five years Marshall Field worked in a dry goods store on Pittsfield's North Street. Included is the following: "Not far from the store was Pittsfield's pride, the Maplewood Young Ladies' Institute, set up in 1841 by the Reverend Wellington Hart Tyler after he lost his voice from preaching too loudly. Its 100 students received 'an extensive and liberal' course of studies which, in the words of the Reverend Mr. Tyler, 'cannot fail, in all cases where it is diligently and systematically prosecuted, to exert a decided influence over the female mind and, through that powerful and pervading agency, secure most happy results in our rising Republic.'"

According to these authors, it was Marshall Field's acquaintance with one or two of these very bright young women from Maplewood who went on to wed entrepreneurs in Chicago that contributed to his decision to go to Chicago. Marshall Field was 21 when he arrived in Chicago in 1856.

Obviously, The Maplewood is an historic treasure for Pittsfield. It is so good to see it looking like one.

MARGARET ROUSSIN
Hinsdale, March 4, 2006