A Trip Down Memory Hill

Lynn and Jane departed for their trip to Nepal this morning. It was our only day without any planned activities, so Dad and I took the opportunity to explore Woodstock. We tried (with limited success) to remember details from way back when, so we could compare to how things look now. I apologize to all of you who are not Woodstockites, but the rest of this probably won’t make a lot of sense.

Dad and I walked over to the Woodstock campus from the Hanifl Center on the Eyebrow Trail; a scenic trip that skirts along steep cliffs. We stopped off at the Lyre Tree (the most famous Woodstock landmark) for the obligatory photo, and then headed down the hill to the student residences. Our first stop was the Hostel (high school boys residence), where both of us lived during high school. The Hostel had deteriorated to the point where it was no longer fit for habitation and was closed a couple of years ago. Although the original plan was to demolish it and build a new dormitory, current building restrictions in Mussoorie made that impossible. The current plan involves gutting the place and completely renovating. Although I suppose it will be nice to have the façade from the old building gracing the Woodstock landscape, I suspect there are a lot of ex-Woodstock boys who wouldn’t mind one bit if the thing was torn down. From what I gathered, Sanjay Narang (of gym construction fame) is handling the entire project through his construction company (Mars) and is footing most of the bill.

Woodstock is growing and needs more student housing. In order to increase the number of dorm rooms without increasing the footprint of the building, a new wing of rooms is being built where the Hostel swimming pool was. The old pool is being replaced with 25 meter pool that sits out in front of what we called the “East Wing” of the old Hostel that housed junior and senior boys. From what I understand, this will be a “real” swimming pool (as in chlorinated and heated). The next generations of Woodstock kids will never be able to experience the joy of a freezing dip in a slime-coated swimming pool!

Sanjay has said that the Hostel construction will be completed by the end of the year. Although that’s hard to believe based on the amount of work left to do (see photos), we have to remember that no one believed him when he said the gym would be done in time for a Sept. 18^th dedication!

Other big changes for us included extensive renovations of both Ridgewood and Midlands, and the Alter Ridge building (which sits at the same level as Ridgewood) and houses dormitories, kitchen facilities, and a large dining room. The new lower “bypass road” below Tehri Road really changed the way things look. Hard to believe it’s possible to drive a car to Ridgewood (and beyond to Hanson Field and Dhobi Ghat)! The walk back up the hill to school was a painful reminder that we’re not 16 anymore. I can remember running all the way up from the Hostel when I was late for class.

David Laurenson invited us to stop by his place, “The Principal’s House,” on our way into the bazaar for dinner. We had a very nice time chatting on his patio overlooking Landaur and the hillside. On the recommendation of many people, we ate at the Tavern. It’s just down the street from the old Picture Palace (currently an empty, dilapidated old building). A cold Carlsberg and dinner really hit the spot. I highly recommend the Rogan Josh (if you like mutton).

Dad and the Lyre Tree. Still there after all these years.

The first big switchback coming up from Ridgewood is now in the middle of the new lower (bypass) road. Really looks different.

The front of the Hostel showing some of the construction.

A view of the Hostel from the far end of the new pool. The East Wing that houses junior and senior boys is straight ahead.

Dad is standing in front of the new wing, which sits on top of where the old Hostel swimming pool was.

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