Wheaton College - Nike Yearbook (Norton, MA)

Page 24 text:

DOLL’S HOUSE OLD POWER HOUSE LAUNDRY TOWER HALL (1904-5): This building served first as the power house and laundry, providing all of the light, power and heat for the college plant until 1925, when a new power plant was con- structed. The old power house was re- modeled and a third floor added to house thirty people, including eleven women of the staff. A new steam distribution sys- tem was installed throughout the campus during the summer of 1923. When the power house was remodeled into a resi- dence, a contest was held to name the building, which was being called “Tower Hall,” but by 193l, it was commonly re- ferred to as the “Doll’s House.” It was converted into a classroom building in 1934, housing the Economics, Sociology, Psychology and Education Departments. In the basement, the Zoology Dept. kept an “animal room,” and the Physics Dept. an “apparatus room.” In 1935 “The Cage” or small gymnasium was added to the lower level. The Cage gained a snack bar in 1962-63, and was completely renovated in 1968-69. The Dolls House was remodeled into the bookstore and offices in the 1960s. When Knapton was renovated in 1971, offices on the second floor of the Doll’s House were used to expand the Bookstore. In 1972, the building housed Buildings and Grounds, SAGA, and Security offices. The Doll’s House was again remodelled in 1978, when the Book- tae soehiatty A asesagt T =} sebcbcist, agrgaeeerieccee store was moved to the old Everett Dining Hall. In 1980, The Cage was remodelled and renamed “The Loft.” Since 1982, the Doll’s House housed Financial Aid, Registrar and Dean’s offices. PEACOCK POND (1929): Marsh excavated and transformed into pond. Not spring fed. In its first years, the pond was used for swimming, boating and skating, and was considered to be an integral part of college activities. Seniors first successfully floated their candles on it in 1930. A contest to name the pond resulted in “Peacock Pond” or “Peacock Mirror” because the Chapel weathervane is reflected on its surface. The Greek Temple on the pond’s western shore was constructed in 1935 using pillars from the porch of the original section of Old Metcalf Hall. 20

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GYMNASIUM (1844): Originally located between the north wing of Mary Lyon Hall and Old Metcalf Hall, this is believed to be the first freestanding gymnasium built at any women’s college in the U.S. In 1869 it was remodeled, and the Seminary Library was moved into this building. When addi- tions were made to Mary Lyon Hall in 1878, Mrs. Wheaton donated the building to the Trinitarian Congregational Church for its vestry. At first, the vestry was attached to the rear of the Church, facing south. The former gymnasium was moved to its present position at the southern end of the Church’s current horseshoe shape in 1963. at. . we ten Se, 3 Pr Se os ge BON Se Et PIR ck 2 BOWLING ALLEY (1884-85): This building had two alleys and stained- glass windows. It was first mentioned in the catalogue of I90I-O2, and last mentioned in 1907-08. It was later razed. Cole Memorial Chapel (1917): The chapel was named in 1926 for the Rev. Samuel Valentine Cole, Trustee from 1893 to 1925, and College President from 1897 until his death in 1925. The original seating capacity of ca. 900 was expanded in 1934. 19

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HEBE PARLORS HEBE COURT (1933): Originally contained one large and twelve small parlors, in which students could entertain their guests. The parlors connected through arched doorways with Metcalf and Kilham Halls, and were named to commemorate dates and people important to Wheaton Seminary and halls in Old Metcalf: Laban, 1835, Seventh Heaven, Tragedy, Comedy, Seminary, Eliza, 1933, Purgatory, Paradise, Broadway, Boarding House. In 1947 Hebe was remodelled into three small faculty apartments, and finally into offices. a i . a “a ita. ALUMNAE GUEST HOUSE NURSERY SCHOOL (1931): This md vata building was the original Nursery School, founded by Elisabeth Amen. Built entirely by college workmen under the direction of Mr. Cutler, in cooperation with the Education and Psychology Departments for $10,400. It ws enlarged in 1937, when a one-way vision observation screen was installed. The building served as a history office building after the building of the Elisabeth Amen Nursery School in 1966 until the Social Sciences Hall was placed in Knapton in 1971. At that time, the former nursery school was converted to the Alumnae Guest House. »}