Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1894-09-21
THe IMPRovsMeNrs Ar rHe CoLLeoE.X

TTHE IMPROVEMENTS AT THE COLLEGE.
\ correspondent of an exchange has
been looking over the improvements eff
fected at the college during the summer
vacation and writes of them as follows
under date of Sept. l2:
Improvement of college buildings has
been the order of the summer, work upon
the chapel and Painter hall having been
constant since commencement.
$50 begin with, the long era of
stoves and wood boxes is over, and both
buildings will be heated in the future by
an extensive steam plant, the boiler being
located in the basement of Painter. The
Transforming effect on the appearance
of the various rooms in the chapel
building is especially noticeable and the
gain in both room and convenience is
marked.
"Painter hall, in its interior arrange.
ments, would scarcely be recognized by
those who have known Its dinginess and
desolation during the last quarter of a
century; in fact, it hardly knows itself.
1t is matter for cOngratulation that the
full capacity is again to be put to use, for
not only is old Painter the most academ-
ic and plainly handsome of the college
buildings, but it has besides the most his
tory at Its back. Built in 1914, it is the
oldest of the campus structures. Its broad
foundations and massive limestone walls
mark the substantial natures and far
reaching plans of those who had it In
charge. 1t was built for dormitory pur-
poses and so employed till afteI the war,
when all students went over to newer
Starr. From the rooms of Painter, with
their generous fireplaces and deep win
dow-seats, student after student went out
| fA fln 3 rI,T l,ck
hardly more than a handful. From the
little semi-circular attic window in the
south wall the efligy of JEFF Davis hang
ing one morning testified to the patriot
ism of those who remained.
"a dozen years ago the library was
brought from the chapel and given, for
more commodious quarters, the entire
north division. The two upper stories OF
the south division thrown into one were
also utilized as gymnasium. The rest
of the building, for the most part, was a
rubbish hole. All this, however, is now
changed.
1.-The first floor of the south division Is
taken up with an enlarged reading room
and a general college office. On the sec.
ond floor, directly beneath the gymnast
um, are bathroom, locker room and
closets, the set making the appointments
connected with the gymnasium all that
could be desired. By change of the
stairway approaching it the floor capacl-
ty of the gymnasium itself is increased
practically third.
"ln the middle division the first floor
contains large, light reference and study
room connected with the library, an of
flee for the librarian, and a recitation anG
lecture room, to be used in the work Of
the English department. On the seconC
floor is set of rooms for faculty pur
poses. The remaining space in thu
division is given up to dormitories. witt
their steam heat and electric light, how
ever, their fittings are decidedly different
} from those of the olden time.
"EXternally the building has been cor
respondingly improved. The roof ha
been slated; the huge chimneys are new
ly topped out, and lSrge-paned Window
are everywhere.
"Practically it is a new building tina
} goes into use this fall and it is typica
of the institution of whose equipment /
forms part-it is substantial and up y
= date" Z