With
the adoption of the collegiate charter in 1888
Mount Holyoke began a new era. As other new
and better-endowed
institutions began to move away from the central
housing model pioneered by Mary Lyon and toward
the “cottage” housing system, Mount
Holyoke found itself at a disadvantage. Then,
in
September of 1896, the Seminary building was
destroyed by fire. President Elizabeth Mead
turned this disaster
to advantage with an amazing fundraising and
building program that revitalized the institution
and it
rose from the ashes a year later stronger and
ready to move into the next century.