Loyola University Maryland - Evergreen / Green and Gray Yearbook (Baltimore, MD)

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He showed me his offices and the other administrative offices on the first floor, the treasurer’s rooms with its vault and cashiers screen, then the parlors and the small meeting room towards the north end of the building. He called mj attention to the stair which, he said, was duplicated at the other end so that the students entered the building at each end and went directly to the basement locker rooms and then to thei}- respective classrooms on the second and third floors. The meeting in the auditorium was just over and while we waited for the students to file out he explained that the corridors were made for hard school usage and all woodwork, M ' here possible, had been eliminated. We entered the auditorium, its stage at the east end was complete with dress- ing rooms. “The first floor will hold seven hundred and fifty and notice the balcony,’’ he said, “we can get two hundred and fifty more up there so that a large student body can be seated at one time.’’ The central stair was auxiliary, running only from the basement to the second floor. Just opposite his office we started up. On the second floor were the classrooms for the freshmen and sopho- mores, accommodations having been niade for two hundred and twenty- five in each class. The large debating room with paneled walls had the ap- pearance of a senate chamber, with a platform at one end and the desks grouped around. The library was located in the tower. I noticed the cor- ridor was well lighted and the stairs at either end were entirely enclosed with smoke screens serving also to eliminate noises. “You will notice,’’ he said, “how well lighted the classrooms are, planned along most modern classroom requirements.’’ The third floor 1 found, where provisions were made for the juniors and seniors, was similar to the floor below, with a debating room, refer- ence library and reading room. On the south front were living rooms for the teachers with a chapel in the tower. We climbed the tower stair into the clock room and saw the delicate mechanism that operated the clock and struck the hours; further on we climbed into the big tower room. Here indeed was an air of business. “The students’ paper and the Green and Gray are worked out here, away from distracting noises.’’ I felt I had taken too much of his time and suggested that we leave. We left the building at the north entrance leading to the wide driveway which, he explained, ran through the grounds to Cold Spring and Reservoir Lane. Walking around the auditorium wing, which I noticed was somewhat simpler in treatment, we arrived at the east end where a central feature provided a suitable setting for a statuary group. From there the campus was wide and unbroken clear to the residence. He pointed out the Science Building, and the location for the library, which he hoped would be built ’ere long. “On the north we will complete the Engineering Building. The boilers are housed in that basement foundation which will eventually become our central heating plant. Further east will come the Chapel. Our group then will consist of six buildings including the residence, formed in rectangular shape. “1 should have shown you the cafeteria and kitchen beneath the audi- torium and the locker rooms, smoking rooms and recreation rooms in the basement for the boys.’’ Page 10

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Tkc Loyol a (SollGge Arts BixilcLiii Baltimore, April 29, 1928. HEN I climbed upon the Charles Street bus the other day at Union Station on my return to the city, after many years ab- sence, I seated myself beside an elderly man who proved later to be a real Baltimore “booster”. Being anxious to talk about the city, he filled me with the desire to learn of its changes. Traveling northward we had soon passed through Guilford and en- tered what he told me was Baltimore’s newest and widest boulevard. Charles Street! and now 130 feet wide. As we were passing Evergreen he pointed to the Loyola Group and the fine new Arts Building which had just been completed and occupied. I remembered then, that in 1921, just before I went away, the site had been purchased by the Associated Profes- sors of Loyola College for their new College; interrupting him to glance back at the great marble building I gazed as long as I could before he called my attention to the new developments beyond. We seemed to ride for many miles and then started on the return trip. Nearing Loyola again I signalled the driver to stop and got off at the entrance. Walking up the large half-oval shaped driveway, I was soon at the tower entrance and turned to look towards Charles Street. The steep bank had been removed, the magnificent garden, on the left, bordered with its Lombardy Poplars had been changed only slightly; the terraces, walls and walks making a pleasant setting at the south side of the property. With boxwoods and evergreens planted in front of the Arts Building it seemed to grow out of the ground. I stepped back a space to get a larger view of the marble structure. The Memorial Tower in the center was flanked both sides with buttressed wings terminating at each end in strong pylons giving solidity to the mass. The windows seemed large but well proportioned. I began to examine more closely the Tower. A medieval structure of the old world had been trans- planted in a new setting! I felt a sense of Oxford. The deep revealed entrance was surmounted by a balcony from which arose a double-storied oriel window. The pleasing effect was arresting my attention when I heard a chime and gazing higher saw the clock dial pointed to two, my eye carried higher to the tower top and the turrelle on the corner. All had seemed quiet until now and then I heard the tramp of feet and students began filing out onto the campus from the tower en- trance and those at the north and south ends of the building. I walked closer and entered the building. The tower entrance lobby was rich in Gothic detail, yet subdued and pleasing, I passed further and found myself in the auditorium. A meeting was in progress so I tip-toed out and would have hurried from the building when I was stopped. “Are you seeking someone, perhaps I can help you?” I explained my absence from the city and remarked that I was getting acquainted again with Baltimore. I recognized him. “Father McEneany, you don’t remember me.” “Of course I do,” he said, “let me take you around the building,” and we started off. Page 9

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Not want ing to keep him any longer from his duties I asked permis- sion to walk through the grounds which he readily granted. I was rather surprised to find that a splendid Athletic Field and Gymnasium had also been built during my absence, its unfinished end wall being left for the Alumni Hall extension. A baseball game was in progress and there was wild cheering and applause. As I turned towards Charles Street at the south end of the residence I met Father McLoughlin who recognized me at once and insisted that I take a look into the Science Building, after which he conducted me down the box-lined walk of the garden to the south end of the Arts Building showing me how the buildings were all connected with walks and terraces and enhanced by the plantings at the base. I started to go several times when he called my attention to this fea- ture and to that feature and how they were plan ning for an even larger program than had ever been dreamed of. The chimes in the tower struck again and I noticed it was four o’clock. “I must hurry on,” I said, and ran for the approaching bus. Page 11