The vision for Alvirne High School began with Dr. Alfred K. Hills and was set in motion by his last will and testament written in December 1918, less than two years before his death in May 1920. However, there were two pivotal events in 1948 which, in the final analysis, permitted the town of Hudson to establish Alvirne High School on the former Hills Estate on Derry Road.

The first of these was the legendary Alvirne Summer School, which took place at the Alvirne Summer Home and the surrounding field and forest; the purpose being to show that a secondary high school was feasible in Hudson. This school was established by town and school officials upon the suggestion of attorney Robert B. Hamblett, representing the estate of Dr. Hills.

The second, and less public event, was the role played by Mrs. Alfred (Jesse) Hills in the final negotiations and litigation of the estates of Dr. Hills and his mother-in-law, Mary Creutzborg.

First some background, Alfred K. Hills was a Hudson native, born October 1840 on the farm of his Hills ancestors. By the age of 22, Alfred had graduated from Harvard College, and by age 25, had married Martha Simmond in Boston. In the years to follow, he studied medicine and established his 40-year medical profession in New York City. In 1885, his wife, Martha, passed away after 20 years of marriage.

In 1887, Alfred married Ida Virginia Creutzborg of Philadelphia, and they soon purchased the old homestead and acreage on Derry Road. In 1890, they built their “Alvirne” summer home in a field across the road from the farmhouse. Alfred and Virginia had two daughters, Gladys, born 1891, and Mary, born 1895. Both children died in infancy. In May 1908, Ida Virginia passed away suddenly.

The generosity of the Hills/Creutzborg family to our town is well known. Alfred and Ida Virginia donated a bell and belfry for the Chapel of the Holy Angels on Lowell Road. Soon after Virginia’s death in 1908, he built the Alvirne Memorial Chapel in her memory. Alfred and his mother-in-law, Mrs. Creutzborg, provided the funding for the Hills Memorial Library and for Library Park.

In 1910, Alfred Hills and Jessie Norwell of Nashua were married. When Dr. Hills passed in May 1920, he was interred within the Alvirne Chapel alongside his wife Virginia and their daughters.

In his will, Dr. Hills left lifetime income to a number of beneficiaries with the remainder of his estate to the town of Hudson for the purpose of establishing an “industrial school” containing the name Alvirne. In May 1928, Mary Creutzborg passed at the age of 102. By her will, she also provided funding for the Alvirne school envisioned by her son-in-law, Alfred. In the 19 years which followed, no funds from either estate were made available to Hudson. During this time, the beneficiaries were being paid, the Hills farm continued operation by a farm manager, our country was in a depression, the intent of an “industrial school” was unclear and the wills were being contested in the courts by family members.

In August 1947, the court did rule that the trust money could be used by Hudson. The only flaw was a continuing battle with some of the heirs to retain a percentage of the money. This brings us up to the spring/summer of 1948.

Local school officials, attorneys for the town of Hudson and the Hills Estate organized a school to be known as Alvirne High School on June 7, 1948, at 4 p.m. at the Hills summer home. There was a public gathering, including parents, school and town officials and some 22 girls and 10 boys who registered for classes. Mrs. Harold (Maude) French, a local 4-H leader, was designated to teach sewing to the girls. At the end of the session, these girls learned basic sewing techniques and had made 12 playsuits, 15 dresses, 20 shorts and pedal-pushers, nine blouses and had remodeled several garments. Kenneth Gibbs, who had recently retired as county 4-H agent, was designated to teach a session for the boys, including forestry, soil testing, basic dairy and barn maintenance as well poultry raising. Mr. Gibbs served as the first principal of Alvirne. In the end, this summer program lasted six weeks and diplomas were issued at a closing graduation. The first photo was taken June 1948 in the library of the Alvirne Summer Home during one of Jesse Hills’ visits to the school.

These sessions and activities of the summer school were watched by several individuals, including lawyers representing various parties. The lawyers for the heirs were hoping to show that the conditions of the will had not been met. Following the graduation, several individuals, including Mrs. French, Jesse Norwell Hills, Principal Gibbs and members of the school board, were served court summons to give depositions to prove that the legal requirements of the will were met and that the school was established. Testimonies were made before six lawyers; four representing the heirs and two defending Alvirne. Mrs. French was questioned for a period of two hours.

Even when word came that the conditions of the will were met, the appeal process and litigations continued. As late as January 1949, there were prospects of further costly litigation and appeals. In an effort to “buy peace” with the family and proceed with the design and building of a high school, a settlement was negotiated for $25,000. The school board, Mrs. Hills as trustee of the estates and their councils agreed.

Following this decision, architect Irving Hersey and trustees of the Alvirne School worked on plans and drawings for Alvirne High School. Ground breaking was scheduled for the spring of 1949. The photo is a part of the collection of the Hudson Historical Society.

Ruth Parker is a lifelong resident of Hudson with family ties that date back to the colonial days. Her work, shared via the Hudson Historical Society, will be featured bi-weekly in The Sunday Telegraph.

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