Milestones
1900
The Beginnings
Rev. Dr. John Anderson Graham leases 100 acres of land from the Government on the slopes of the Deolo Hills, east of Kalimpong and lays the foundation of St. Andrew’s Colonial Homes in Kalimpong on 24th September, 1900.
1901
- The first Overseas Committee – the February Scottish Committee – is formed.
- The first building in the compound – Woodburn Cottage – is inaugurated on 4th November, 1901 by the Lt. Governor of Bengal, Sir John Woodburn
- The first India-based Committee – The Cawnpore Committee – is formed.
1902
- Elliott Cottage, named after Sir Charles Elliott, is inaugurated on 4th November, 1902 by the Lt. Governor of Bengal, Sir John Woodburn.
- The Bourdillon School is inaugurated by Mr. A Pedler, Director of Public Instruction, Bengal.
1903
- Mr. J. Simpson is appointed the first Head Master.
- Calcutta Cottage is opened by Lady Bourdillon on 30th September, 1903.
- Sir Charles Allen opens the Christison Farm Steading on 29th October, 1903.
1904
- The first pupil – Henry Edmunds – passes out from the Homes.
- Strachan Cottage is inaugurated by Mr. Robert Laidlaw of Whiteaway, Laidlaw & Co. on 12th January, 1904.
- Sir Andrew Fraser, Lt. Governor of Bengal inaugurates the Waterworks on 5th November, 1904.
1905
- Thorburn Cottage is inaugurated on 9th June, 1905 by Mr. E. A. Gait.
- James Patterson Memorial Workshop opens.
1906
- Jarvie Hall is inaugurated on 24th April, 1906 by Sir L. Hare, officiating Lt. Governor of Bengal.
- Bene Cottage is inaugurated on 15th June, 1906 by Mr. Earle, Director of Public Instruction for Bengal.
1907
- The second wing of the Bourdillon School is opened.
1908
- Mr. James Purdie takes up the position of Secretary of the Homes.
- Miss L Steel inaugurates the Steel Memorial Hospital and Sanitorium on 4th February, 1908.
- The Demonstration Farm Building opens in May 1908.
- The Pugh Gymnasium opens on 31st October, 1908.
- Fraser Hostel is inaugurated on 31st October, 1908 by Mr. R T Greer.
1910
- Lucia King Cottage is inaugurated on 24th September, 1910 by the Hon. Mr. F. A. Slacke, President of the Homes.
1912
- Macgregor Cottage is inaugurated on 15th June, 1912 by Mr. P. C. Lyon.
- The Memorial Stone of the Queen Mary Block is laid by Lord Carmichael on 5th October, 1912.
- Scottish Canadian Cottage is inaugurated by Rev. Robert Stevenson on 23rd December, 1912.
1914-1919
- Boys of the Homes fight for the British Empire during the First World War.
1915
- Edinburgh Cottage is inaugurated by Lord Carmichael, Governor of Bengal on 2nd June, 1915.
1919
- Katherine Graham, beloved wife of Rev. Dr. John Anderson Graham, passes away on 15th May, 1919.
1921
- Lord Baden Powell, the founder and leader of the worldwide Scout movement, visits the Homes on 27th February, 1921.
1925
- The Homes celebrates its Silver Jubilee.
- The Katherine Graham Memorial Chapel is inaugurated by Lord Lytton, Governor of Bengal on 24th September, 1925.
1927
- The Homes expands its operations to Calcutta with the opening of the Birkmyre Hostel on 14th January, 1927.
1929
- A legacy worth Rs.900,000 is donated to the Homes by the estate of Sir Robert Laidlaw, helping the Homes out of financial difficulty.
1930
Ahava Guest House is inaugurated in April 1930.
1931
- The Rev. Dr. John Anderson Graham retires from his mission work in Kalimpong and comes to live in the compound.
- Rev. Dr. John Anderson Graham is made Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and spends a year there fulfilling his various duties before returning to Kalimpong.
1936
- The Willingdon Farm House and Agricultural Hostel are opened.
1937
- Rev. Dr. John Anderson Graham undertakes a world tour, visiting OGBs and overseas friends of the Homes.
1939
- Rev. Dr. John Anderson Graham celebrates the Golden Jubilee of the Homes in Kalimpong
- Jubilee House is inaugurated by Rev. Foss Westcott.
1939-1947
- Boys of the Homes fight for the British Empire during the Second World War.
1942
- Rev. Dr. John Anderson Graham passes away on 15th May, 1942, exactly 23 years after his beloved wife, Katherine, went to her Maker.
1944
- Rev. James E. Duncan is appointed Superintendent of the Homes on 5th June, 1944.
1947
- India gains her Independence from the British Empire – the Tricolour is raised above Jarvie Hall on 15th August, 1947.
- St. Andrew’s Colonial Homes is re-named Dr. Graham’s Homes on 1st October, 1947 and its constitution is amended to allow 40% non-Anglo-Indian children into the School.
1950
- The Homes celebrates its Golden Jubilee.
- A system of sponsorship begins with the East India Charitable Trust partially sponsoring 25 children.
1952
- Overseas sponsorship of children begins with the Christian Children’s Fund Inc. U.S.A., which takes on partial support of 250 children.
- Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Prime Minister of India, visits the Homes on 30th April, 1952.
1957
- Rev. Ewan Traill becomes the first Principal of the Homes.
- His Holiness, The Dalai Lama visits the Homes in January 1957.
1958
- Lady Edwina Mountbatten visits the Homes and is enchanted by the children at Lucia King Cottage.
1961
- Mr. James R. Minto takes over as Principal from Rev. Ewan Traill.
- Bhutanese children and Tibetan refugee children are admitted for the first time.
- The Cambridge Examination system is replaced by the Indian School Certificate (I.S.C.) in December, 1961.
1963
- The Chinese invade North-East India and the remaining school children are evacuated to Gopalpur, Orissa.
1968
- Floods wash away the Rilli Bungalow and adversely affect the entire Kalimpong area.
1971
- Mr. Bernard Brooks takes over as Principal from Mr. James R. Minto.
- Mr. Robert H. Wright takes over as Chairman and President of the Board of Management.
1972
- The First International Conference of Overseas Committees and the Board of Management is held in Kalimpong.
1975
- The Homes celebrates its 75th birthday.
1976
- The Delhi-based Indian Schools Certificate (10+2) is introduced.
1977
- The Christian Children’s Fund, U.S.A., discontinues its support of 300 children of the Homes, plunging the School into a financial crisis.
- The Central Kitchen is opened; meals cease to be cooked and served in Cottages.
1979
- Mr. K. S. Italia takes over as Chairman.
1987
- Mr. Robert H. Wright is reappointed as Chairman and President of the Board of Management.t.
1988
- Mr. Howard O’Connor takes over as Principal from Bernard Brooks in January 1988.
- A record forty-day “bandh” is called throughout the District; the Homes is closed for six months from 10th February 1988.
1994
- The Second International Conference of Overseas Committees and the Board of Management is held in Kalimpong.
- Mr. Michael J. Robertson takes over as Chairman and President of the Board of Management of the Homes in May 1994.
1995
- Centenary Cottage is inaugurated.
1998
- The Third International Conference of Overseas Committees and the Board of Management is held in Kalimpong.
1999
- The Greenhouse Project – sponsored by the Dr. Graham’s Homes Japan Committee – is established.
2002
- Mr. David Foning appointed Bursar of the Homes.
2003
- The Extended Sponsorship Programme is put in place, sponsoring students to pursue college education. Hostel arrangements are made in Kolkata for college-going alumni of the Homes.
2004
- The Children’s Choir – ‘The Children’s City in Concert’ – performs in Kolkata. This is the start of a series of concerts in Kolkata held in December every year to packed audiences.
2005
- Murray Cottage inaugurated and the Homes Museum is established.
2006
- Thorburn Cottage is rebuilt.
- Children of Dr. Graham’s Homes perform with the Miyazaki – Junior Orchestra in Japan.
2007
- The Children’s Choir of the Homes undertakes a concert tour of the United Kingdom and Scotland and receives rave reviews.
- Mr. Monomoy Banerjee, Managing Member and Secretary to the Board, passes away after decades of dedicated service. He was associated with the Homes for 43 years.
- An International BPO Academy is set up at the Homes to help children acquire skills for careers in the BPO industry.
2008
- The Fourth International Conference of Overseas Committees and the Board of Management is held in Kolkata in April 2008.