Mercersburg Academy - Karux Yearbook (Mercersburg, PA)

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Taba Tlixbministralion Yauilbing f HE Hrst suggestion of an fhCllHl1llSfl'2ltlO11 Building was 111ade at the Annual Field Day Dinner in Keil Hall in Noveinher, 1918, K by Mr. S. W. Traylor, of Allentown, Pa. Mr. Traylor, while Hnishing an iinpromptu toast, called attention to tl1e 11eed of such a huild- ing for the Academy. He said that he would subscribe tl1e Slllll of twelve thousand five hundred dollars to start tl1e building Zlllfl he challenged the boys of the school to subscribe a11 equal amount. He appointed a coinniittee to take charge of the matter with Dr. J. G. Rose. of Klercers- burg, as Chairman. The Rev. W. ul. Muir, tl1e Field ,Xgent of the Academy, was also a 1llC1HlJC1' of tl1e co1111nittee a11d within a year and a half after the challenge was lTlZ1ClC tl1e subscription list was thought to he large enough to justify tl1e heg'i1111ing' of the work. In June, 1920, in COIHIHCIICCINCIIY Wleek, ground was broken for the Building with appropriate cereinony. The Hon. Iidwiu Stewart. of Philadelphia, Pa., a former Governor of Pennsylvania, made the address, and Mr. Traylor threw out tl1e first shovelful of ground. Very shortly thereafter bids were received from live dihfere11t firms in llaltiinore. New York, and Philadelphia. On account of war conditions and the high price of materials, each of these hids was approximately two hundred thousand dollars. No one thought it wise to try to put so nnieh inoney into an Administration Building. The huilding counnittee waited until the Fall of 1920 when tl1e foundations were erected under the direct supervision of the building coniinittee itself. .X Superiiitendent nf foll- St1'llCtlO1'l was used for this purpose. ln March, lflll, the eontract for Fliffffll

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mcmxx n 1 The wiillutns Fourteen

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fl A It V xi gnc rw x x ui T- H the rest of the building was given to Hicks, Tase 81 Norris, of Balti- more, Md., their bid being approximately one hundred and twenty-six thousand dollars. lncluding the expense of erecting the foundations, also the extras which occur with every new building, and the various furnishings the total cost of the Administration Building will be approxi- mately one hundred and sixty thousand dollars. It was hoped that the building would be ready for occupancy in September, 1921. Delays in receiving the Indiana liinstone, which is used for trimming, and certain other materials have brought it about that the building will not be ready for occupancy before May 1, 1922. On account of the work necessary in moving the executive offices, also by reason of much grading which must be done around the Administra- tion Building, the School Management does not expect to occupy the Administration Building until after Commencement, 1922. The Administration Building is Collegiate-Gothic in style. Day K Rlauder, of Philadelphia, are the architects. The walls are made of local blue limestone laid in flat courses and the work is trimmed with Indiana limestone. The hrst story of the building contains the Academy Athletic Store. the Academy Postollice, offices for the Matron and the Superin- tendent of Buildings and Grounds, a bedroom for the two boys who have charge of the Athletic Store, also a vault for the Academy Treasurer and a store room for the materials used in the oflices of the Head Master and the Registrar. There are also toilet rooms, a house maid's sink, and an unpacking room with several closets which may be used for storage purposes. The upper story of the building contains the ofiices of the Head Master, the Registrar, the Treasurer, the Disciplinarian, the Secretary to the Head Master, the Head Masters stenographers, and the office of the Assistant Head Master when this position shall be filled. There is also a rest room for mothers. The most important part of the entire building, of course, is the large Reception Hall from which the various offices may be entered. This reception room is sixty-four feet six inches long, twenty-four feet six inches wide. The room is finished in Gothic style with a high wains- cot and a hammerbeam roof. The open timbers of the roof and the oak wainscot are finished in dark colors. At one end of the reception room is a large open fireplace and two large Gothic windows extending from the Hoor to the roof. At the eastern end of the reception room is a gallery and above it is a large, attractive Gothic window. At the point of the arches immediately under the roof will be placed in color the coats-of-arms of twelve of the leading preparatory schools of the world. Six of these will be arms of English schools as follows: Wiiicliester, Si.1'f6'C'lL