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History

The main buildings at Bennett College, which long served as the southern gateway to Millbrook, were designed by James Ware and originally built as a resort hotel in the 1890s. The hotel failed financially, and in 1907 it was sold to Miss Bennett’s College, which offered a two-year curriculum to the daughters of many prominent families from around the world.

With the growing popularity of coeducational education, and the desire by many young women to pursue four-year degrees, Bennett College’s popularity waned in the 1970s, and it eventually declared bankruptcy in 1978.

After the college closed its doors, the bulk of the campus transferred ownership several times. In 2014, the then-ownership faced foreclosure for non-payment of real estate taxes and attempted to sell off individual parcels.

The Thorne family and Millbrook Tribute Garden stepped in and bought the property.

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