05/21/2026
A Chapter in the History of the Christmas House:
The Christmas House was built in the 1860s by Alfred native, Albert B. Sherman. When Sherman fell onto hard times, his house went up for public auction. A young friend of his--James Lester Reynolds--attempted to help Sherman by bidding up the price, but in the process, he inadvertently bought the house! It worked out well, however: the house remained in the Reynolds family for over a century. Upon his death, James left the property to his son, Edwin O. Reynolds, then Edwin left it to his son, Lester Eugene Reynolds. When Gene Reynolds died without heirs in 1991, he made provision that his house would be auctioned and his estate would be divided equally between Alfred University and the Alfred State College of Technology. Reynolds stipulated, “It is my will and I direct that each of the recipients shall use the funds to establish a prize to be awarded annually to the student demonstrating the greatest achievement in the field of mathematics.”
Each year at the Alfred University Awards convocation, I smile when that scholarship is awarded and I think about the Reynolds family, the privilege I have of now owning their historic home, and the way that they continue to benefit outstanding young scholars 35 years after Lester’s death (my daughter and I fondly refer to him as “our ghost” when there are unexplained occurrences in the house!) This past year--my last before retiring--I was fortunate to actually know the delightful young Alfred University student who earned the Reynolds scholarship; Callum graduated from Alfred on Saturday. Congratulations, Callum; I’m sure you will make the Reynolds family proud!
