The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-09-28
Big Building Of Mt. Holy
0ke College Burned.
Rebuilding of Structure Will
Be Begun at Once.
Students Had a Skdrlish TO Secure
Temporary Quarters.

south Hadley Mass. sept 2s.-Mount
Iiolyoke college. the pioneer institution
for the higher education OF women. re-
ccived severe blow yesterday after
noon, In the burning or the entire main
building, with probable loss OF over
Si5O.O00. The buildings have. cost over
$4,000, and could not be replaced today
short of 100000. Fortunately none of
the 400 students or faculty was injured.
the 400 students, or faculty were injured.
there being ample time for their escape,
With part OF their personal effects.
The fire was first discovered In the
laundry, in the gymnasium wing, about
4:3O o'clock. The college lire apparatus
was put TO work, but IL was soon seen
that they could not control IL. and help
was telephoned for from South Hadley
Falls and Holyoke. Fire apparatus was
sent from these places and a steamer
and hose wagon. but. owing 10 the dis
tsnce. and delays, arrived too late to be
effective. The fire slowly worked
through the doorways in the fire wall
into the south wing of the building. and
thence into the large building fronting
OF the street. At the same timeSt burned
through the gymnasium into the north
wing. and at 730 O'Clock the entire struc-
ture was mass OF flames. About s
o'clock the walls began To topple over.
and an hour later about all that remained
Of the structure was portions of the
walls looming up through the smoke and
flames.
The library building, adjoining the
main structure on the north, and con-
tanning $1,000 volumes. was saved by
active work on the part of the firemen.
The burned building was in the form
OF a quadrangle. all Of brick. Facing
the street, was a four story structure.
with about $50 feet frontage. in the base
inent Of which was the large dining hall.
Extending TO the eastward from this
building were two wings. about $50 feet
deep and nominalIy four stories high
These three sections OF the building
were occupied for dormitory purposes.
the first floor of the front being devoted
TO the chapel. reception and music rooms
and offices. Across the rear of the rec
tangle formed by those three sections OF
the building was a three-story structure,
the first story of which contained the
engine room. electric plant. workshops,
etc, and the rest Of the building was oc-
cupied by the gymnasium, laundry and
storerooms. ~ as e
N is supposed that the fire originated
I'm the laundry from an overheated steam
pipe as no one had been in the lasndry
during the day, nor had there been any
fire there. The building and its con-
tents were insured for s154o00.
A l.. Williston of Northampton, treas
urer of the institution says that steps
Will at once be taken looking toward re-
building. Instead OF having one large
structure as formerly, II is probable that
the modern style OF cottage dormitories
will be adopted each cottage costing
about $4,000 to $4,000. and accommo-
dating 30 students.
A new gymnasium will probably be
built somewhat after the plan OF the
one at Mortified seminary, which cost
about s35, 900, and there will also have
to be a chapel building.
Most OF the students were last night
scattered about in the houses of the
townspeople and the church, while
others went to Holyoke. Northampton
and other nearby points. The faculty
and students Will meet in the church to-
day to consider plans for continuing the
college work. Large numbers OF the
students called on the president. Mrs.
Mead, and expressed themselves as will
ing to undergo almost any hardship
rather than go TO their homes. AS
nearly all OF the apparatus of the insti-
tuition was In Williston and scientific
halls, ii will be possible to continue the
college session after arrangements are
made for lodging the 400 students and
faculty in and about the town.
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