History

Metha Horton provided a generous gift to RIT in honor of her husband in 1972 and established the Horton Preschool Program for three and four year olds. Full-day Kindergarten was added to the program in 1991. Over time, the center that began with only 11 children, reached its maximum enrollment capacity of 40 and had outgrown its location in the Riverknoll Student Housing Complex.

In 1996, Alfred Davis, RIT Vice President Emeritus, provided a substantial gift to build a new home for child care on the campus in the Alexander Bell Hall. His gift allowed for the additional establishment of the Davis Infant & Toddler Program. As a tribute to his beloved wife, Margaret Welcher Davis, he named the center Margaret's House.

*Information provided by Margaret's House & the Horton Child Care Center: The story of child care at RIT from 1972-1996 by Risa Pankow.