Upon entering the expanse of the Rivers School campus one is greeted by an elegant and historic white house, seemingly out of place with the modern, freshly renovated buildings scattered behind it.  Yet this building holds meaning to both the Rivers legacy and the local history of Weston, Massachusetts. 

Today, this is known by the students and Rivers School Conservatory as Blackwell House. On any given day of the week, you are likely to see people milling in and out of the house, lugging heavy cases- their instruments. In fact, you would probably hear this house before seeing it, with music lessons a constant. 

But before Blackwell House was an emblem of musical scholarship, it was a home. 

Originally under the historic name, Andrew G. Loker House, this was the home of Andrew Loker, a local farmer and milkman. Constructed in 1908, the Loker House was a 2 ½ story Colonial Revival style house, and one of Weston’s only double bow front design, signified by the two curves on the front. According to Weston native Phil Coburn’s autobiography Growing Up in Weston, the Loker farm buildings and the acres of land accompanying this property were hired by a family that went by the name of Green to train and then sell horses in the early 20th century. During the 40s, it was rented by Weston Nurseries. Then, a man named George H. Blackwell,  a graduate of Harvard College, showed much interest in this property. 

When Blackwell became the headmaster of the Rivers School in 1953, he envisioned a spacious campus for his students, not limited to the smaller space on Heath Street in Chestnut Hill. Heavily debated at the time, in 1958, Blackwell made the momentous decision to move the Rivers School to Weston upon learning that the Loker House and the vast expanse of land behind it was for sale. In 1961, the new campus became fully functional and students began attending. With George Blackwell’s decision to reside there to be close to the campus, the Loker House became known as Blackwell House.  He lived there during his years as headmaster of the Rivers School until 1968. 

In 1975, the Wellesley branch of the New England Conservatory closed three of its schools around Massachusetts and was looking for another place to call home. Ethel Bernard, who was the director of the branch at the time, spent the summer calling places to find a new home for the music school. The Rivers School was coincidentally looking to begin a musical program for their students, thus beginning the Music School at Rivers.

The Music School at Rivers needed a place close to the Rivers campus, and the now empty Blackwell House became the site for this program with Ethel Barnard as the founder and first director. 

Since then, the Blackwell House has become the home of what is now the Rivers School Conservatory, and it fosters the growth of musical knowledge for people of all ages. We honor the history of this house and celebrate nearing the 50th year it has been with the Rivers School Conservatory. With a beautiful refurbishment having been completed this summer, we hope to maintain the Blackwell House to the highest degree and continue its enduring legacy.

Weston (Mass.). Historical Commission. Survey of Historic Properties – Winter Street
Article written by Suchi Patel