The daily morning journal and courier., 1894-07-19
ABOUT OLD NORTH MIDDLE.


 It Has a History of Ninety Years-Its Site
 Formerly Occupied by the Jail and Houso
 of correction-some Of Those Who For
 meriy Lived There. .-
 The destruction Of North Middle co.'s lege. which is now being carried on. calls to mind many interesting remin- iscences Of It's history. By the time college assemblies in the fall. the site of North Middle will be turfed over. A brief history of North Middle is as follows: .~
 At the accession Of President Dwight to the presidency. the existing build ings were found to be altogether in- adequate to the wants of the college. Accordingly "at meeting of the presi- dent and fellows of the college. holden by adjournment In the college chapel. Tuesday, the 4th day of November. ls00." 1t was voted to erect two new buildings. now known as Lyceum and North Middle.
 Like all of Yale's old buildings. North Middle has undergone a series of changes. It formerly had two rear doors similar to those in front, but these were nailed up, early in the seventies. There were thirty-two rooms In. the building, sixteen in each entry. but several Of the rooms on the ground floor were abandoned a number of years ago, for living purposes. In 1871 and 1872 water and gas was introduced into the building. and in 1875 steam was put In. In 1909 the corporation fixed the price of room rent in North Middle at s6 for the college year for each occupant of the building. In 1873 tn average price for each occupant of the building had risen to over $40 per year. Last year the average price was almost double this amount,
 A member of the class of '69 makes the following interesting mention of North Middle in book on Yale:
 When the erection of south in 1793 was commenced close fence. of pan elled boards, painted red and relieved by cross stripes of white, surrounded the college yard, which extended no further than to the north end of South Middle. Beyond was grotesque group, generally of the most undesira- ble establishments, among which was barn, barber shop, several coarse taverns or boarding houses, poor house and house of correction, and the public Jail with its prison yard; the jail being used alike for criminals, for maniacs and for debtors. Being very near the college, the means of innocent prisoners, the cries of felons, and the shrill screams and wild laughter of the insane were sometimes mingled with the sacred songs of praise, rising from the academic edifces.' But in 1900 the cor removal of many of these objectionable neighbors, and so decided upon the erection of two new buildings. The first of them, North Middle, was named Berkeley Hall," in honor of Bishop Berkeley, and the other, "The Connec- ticut Lyceum"-which title abbreviated to Lyceum, still remains.
 w. E. Decrow in "Yale and the City of Films" says: North Middle college, built in 1903, and standing next north of Lyceum, is similar in general appear ance to the other dormitories in the "old brick row." which, by the way, from their ,plainness and uniformity have sometimes been called "the fac tories" It is 106 feet long by 40 wide is four stories high and originally accom- modated ninety-six students. It Is heat-' ed with steam, provided with gas and water, and on the whole is very con- fortable dormitory, though the condi- tions of it's floors, window caps, etc., in- dicates that it was not built as we'll as some of it's neighbors. Each room con- tains, against the wall next the sleep ing room, large closet with double doors. It was intended that bed should be placed in this closet, capable of being lowered to the floor at night to accommodate an occupant so that each study could provide sleeping ac- for three persons. These closets are now QSS2) used for ward robes merely. Until North college was built, North Middle was the most pop ular dormitory in the row, and was con- occupied by the seniors. Af- ter 1921 the seniors deserted it for the then new North college, and North college became what 1t continues to be, the headquarters in this set of build ngs for the juniors, though the upper story is reserved for freshmen. Un- ike South Middle and South, this dor hoe lad 1vn f. 'ul life, with scarcely a ripple of ex- ,itement of any kind, though hundreds 1 ,f graduates doubtless look back with pleasure upon many happy evening 1 passed in old North Middle.
 Among the distinguished persons | who have occupied rooms within its | walls are Rev. Dr. Leonard Bacon l room 76), Professor Solomon Stoddard | room 7S), President Beecher of Illinois | ollege room SD, President sturtevant # same college (room 76, Judge Strong # the United States supreme court room 6O, Bishop Kip of California room SD, Professor Thacher of New Haven (room 9O), Dr. J. P. Thompson of Berlin (rooms 65 and 83). North Middle vas once, so tradition has it. haunted y ghost; but like Rip Van Wrinkles anime companion, it has long since de- arted. Dr. Bushnell, during his ophomore and junior, lived in room 6S. Water Street Bridge Approaches Too Steep.
 Mayor Sargent .sand Vice President Iall of the Consolidated road held a onference recently in relation to the