Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-06-29
NEW AND OLD.

NEW AND OLD.
The Main University Building as
Reconstructed.
Something About the Historf Of the
Edifce.
The other College Buildings and their
HistOry.
Crowning the summit of the hill on
which Burlington is built and overlook
ing landscape whose glories are unex-
celled in this country, the Commence
ment visitor sees, in place of the old long,
bare and dingy barracks of the Univer-
sity, stately and imposing structure,
with high and handsome front, rising into
gables, with projections and recessed
arches and cut-stone trimmings and dor
mer windows, and central spire in place
of the familiar old dome-a fitting home
for the ancient institution Of learning
which has reflected SO much credit upon
our city and our Commonwealth, and d
lasting memorial of the generous build er,
John 2. Howard, ESQ. The old building
was $50 feet in length and 3G feet in
width. In the new building projections
have been brought ont at each end and in
the centre, making the width a. tie ends
AZ feet and at the centre 60 feet. The
projections are surmountcd by steep roofs
the ridge poles of which are at right an.
giles to the length of the main building,
giving three large gables in front and
rear. The centre OF the building rises q
story higher than the rest and is sur.
mounted by belfry and spire. the gilded
final of which is $50 feet from the ground.
The tip of the centre gable is SO feet from
the ground. Between the large proiec.
tions and gables are two smaller ones, in
which are the two front entrances. The
cut.stone is the Isle La Motto gray stone;
the brick is selected Winooski brick, laid
in red mortar and pencilled with black.
The roof is slated, as is also the spire.
The belfry is much larger aud somewhat
easier of access than the old, and is taste
fully ornamented.
As to interior arrangement, the chapel
occupies the same position as in the old
college building. 1t is a large, lofty,
well-lighted and very attractive room. II
is So feet long, 33 feet wide, and % feet
high. The walls and ceiling are painted
soft and pleasant olive-gray tint, aud
handsomely frescoed and borde red in
dark red, blue and slate-c,lor, with vel
low dotting. The chairs, 200 in number,
are Of the patent revolving opera-chair
pattern, finished in imitation cherry cloth
Under each seat is patent hat or book
rack. The reading desk is superb piece
of carved cherry, with raised velvet
cushion. Upon the front of the desk, i'll
beautifully carved letters, are the words
"Via, Neritas, Vita" This desk is the
elegant gift of Professor Clark, formerly
of the University. The stage is carpeted
with dark red Kiddcrminster, and the
floor of the main chapel is painted a neat
gray aud laid with mating. The win
dows are high mud admirably fitted for
stained glass memorials. The frescoing,
seating and carpeting have been secured
by funds furnished by the Alumni-over
$1,000 and it is the intention at some fu.
ture time to place in each seat silver
tablet, in recognition of the gift of the
Alumni.
Under the chapel is the recitation room
of the Military Professor and drill room
over it, the recitation room of the Profes
sor OF Civil Engineering and drawing
room. Opening from the main halls or
each side of the central chapel projection
are the presidents Office, waiting room
, reading room, etc. On each side OF these
to the south and north, on either hand
are six recitation rooms, each 33 by 2.
feet. At the north end is the chemica
, laboratory, and over that the rest of thi,
end and the south end are devoted to dor
mitories. The fourth story will afford {
} large additional number of dormitories,
We may add that library building, tt
cost s75, ,000 is at once to be erected by
Hon. Frederick Billings; and that it i,
understood that Mr.. Howard is shortly Il
build new gymnasium.
The University Buildings in the Past
The first meeting after that at which til,
r corporation of the University OF Vernon
, was organized, the trustees set off (June
1922 from lands owned by Gen. (thel
, ColoneD Ira Allen, plot of fifty acres 70
the grounds of the University, and ap
pointed committee to see that portion
of the lot should be cleared of the statel,
/ pines which were then growing On it, a
/ also to secure donations ami make propa
j rations for the erection of n public build
4 ing for the institution. In October, 1893
they voted "that early in the next Sum
/ mer house shall be built on the colleg,
: square for the use of the University.
: This building was intended for the resi-
G dence OF the President. 1t was begun il
/, 1874, and nearly completed in 1875, bu
was not finished so as to be occupied unit
, 1899. 1t was situated on the east side o
what is now University Place, little tc
/. the south and west of the present Librar,
building. 1t was of wood, AZ by 32 feet
, two stories high, with hipped roof Afte
serving its original purpose for many
years, in process of time this building be
. came unfit for the residence of the Presi
. dent, and degenerated into tenement
house. 1t was commonly known, fort y
years ngo, as "the Old Yellow House"-
and among the students, owing to tn,
' number and variety of its occupants. as
the House of the Seven Nations" One
still, cold night il the Winter of 1874 il
q was burned to the ground-by stroke OF
. lightning, as was said by the students.
The faculty, however, had different
theory of the matter.
The original college edifice proper was
r erected in 1901. In October of 1893 til,