GRACE LAIRD
I have always been fascinated about, Grace Laird and Virginia Braswell, the ladies who began the Graland story in 1924 -- however, that was not the name of the school until 1928.
Just recently, I found a letter from Barry Laird Cornell, Miss Laird’s nephew, who wrote Renee Rockford, our former Director of Communications, thanking her for sending him a copy of Rosemary Fetter’s book.
In the letter, Mr. Cornell provided some facts about Miss Laird I had not known:
1- She was born in Canton, Ohio on May 4, 1870.
2- After living in El Paso, Texas and Kingston, New Mexico, her family and she moved to Denver in 1890.
3- The 1930 Federal Census showed she was a teacher at a private school.
4- In the early 1930’s, Grace moved from Denver to Syracuse, New York.
5- With her beloved piano in tow, she moved to Pleasantville, NY where her brother Wilbur and her two nieces lived.
6- Until her death, Miss Laird was a member of the Pleasantville Presbyterian Church.
7- She was also very active in the Women’s League.
8- She loved children and apples. She loved to spend time at her five-acre apple ranch in North Yakima, Washington.
9- She died at the age of 81 on March 24, 1952.
Graland Country Day School
Graland Country Day School is a private school in Denver, Colorado, serving students in preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school. Founded in Denver in 1927, Graland incorporates a rich, experiential learning approach in a traditional classroom setting, emphasizing the development of globally and socially conscious leaders who excel academically.
