Louise Cottage holds a singular place in Berry College's history. Built in 1909 by Berry School students using campus-harvested logs, it was the first building of the Martha Berry School for Girls and the foundation of the Log Cabin Campus. Designed by architect John Gibbs Barnwell, the structure reflects Martha Berry's vision of simplicity, self-sufficiency and practical education.
Encouraged by influential supporters - including President
Theodore Roosevelt, whose Jan. 1, 1909, letter to Martha Berry urged the
establishment of a school for girls — the school opened that Thanksgiving, with
Louise Cottage serving as its first dormitory. As the campus grew, it welcomed
visitors such as Henry and Clara Ford, whose admiration for what the girls
accomplished with limited resources helped inspire the Ford Buildings.
