A headline in the January 19, 1928 Birmingham Eccentric newspaper declared “Pavilion Opens at Cranbrook.” An odd choice of words, perhaps, since what the article describes was actually a rustic cabin. Built in December 1927, it was a gift from George G. Booth to Cranbrook School in its first year of operation, which, as Headmaster William O. Stevens wrote in the school bulletin, “provided for the happiness of School life.”

One of the coldest months of the year may seem like an odd time for an opening, but the cabin was purposefully built to serve students year-round for Saturday overnight camping excursions. Equipped with both a huge fireplace on one end and a wood stove on the other, the main gallery offered ample room for cots.

Opening festivities included a campfire and games for Cranbrook School students, complete with light refreshments. In a school editorial written shortly after, a student thanks George Booth on behalf of his fellow students, ” We wish to express our gratefulness for this unique feature, which we are sure is no part of any other school.” Indeed!

Built on the main island in the lagoon north of Cranbrook School campus, the cabin included a bridge and a canoe dock. By 1939, at least, it was referred to as the Senior Cabin. In 1941, a similar Senior Cabin was built for the students at Kingswood School.

—Deborah Rice, Head Archivist, Cranbrook Center for Collections and Research