Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-27
How Griffin Hall Was Built.

| Another mun1ncent patron OF Williams Is
Francis Lynde Stetson Of the class Of '67,
an eminent lawyer of New York, who a
few years ago restored Griffin Hall, as the
inscription On the tablet says: las a
| monument to the faith and skill of Presi-
| dent Edward Dorr Griffin, and as tribute
| to his alma mater
| Although to my taste Griffin Hall is the
! most admirable example of architecture
| on the campus, the traditions say that it
| was built without plans or specifications
| of any kind. President Griffin, who ,reigned
| from 1921 to 1886, a man Of extraordinary
ability and versatility, went over the
| campus with the bricklayers drew his cane
| over the grass to show where the founda-
| tons should be laid, and indicated the d.
mansions of the building without even
| measuring them. Then every few hours he
| would inspect the growing walls and tell
the masons where he wanted the windows
| and doors. Tradition says also that he
| drew the picture of a cupola upon the
back of an envelope with his pen and told
| the carpenter to put something like that on
| top. 1t cost only $4,000 to complete this
| inspired structure. 1t cost more than
$4,000 to restore it. Its simple outlines
furnish a striking contrast to the medieval
Gothic of the memorial chapel which
| stands beside 1t.
Popular Dormitories.
| West College, the Oldest of the buildings.
was erected in similar manner in 1889,
| TIC cCllou VI Tic rev. 1O6HSZer
| Fitch, graduate Of Yale, who was the
first president and the actual founder Of the
institution. 1t is a square cornered, simple,
four-story building, eighty-two feet long
| and forty-two feet wide, and within its
| venerable walls the Williams College COM
menced business October 20. 1901 Presi-
dent Fitch designed that building. He did
not draw its outlines in the atmosphere
| with his walking-stick, as President Crit
| fin did in the other case, but made a picture
| in pen and ink to guide the bricklayers and
| carpenters who erected it. The building
| was restored few years ago and equipped
| with what we call modern conveniences. It
I Is now divided into suites of apartments,
each consisting Of sitting room, two bed
rooms and a bath, and they are the most
| expensive and the most popular of all the
dormitories, the rental being $500 per year
for each suite. The other old buildings have
| been modernized and restored in similar
manner and are just as good as, If not much
| better than new, while their architectural
| simplicity contributes more to adorn the
| campus than the ornate designs of more
| modern structures.
Two new dormitories are about to be
| built. The workmen are already tearing
down an ugly stone pile that looks like a
mortuary chapel in city cemetery, and
| will erect in its place another dormitory
which is very much needed The ancient OBJ
| servatory is also to be removed from its
present site In order to make room for q
dormitory which will be unique in design
| and purpose.
Reward for Scholarship.
1t is proposed to prepare luxurious home
for scholars, to be as handsome and COM
plete the funds will allow 1t is to be
| divided into suites similar to those in West
College-a sitting room, two bedrooms and
| a bath, which rent for $500 a year in the
| other building, and lease them for 500 a
year, or 800 for each occupant as reward
for scholarship. There will be accommoda-
/ tn1o TO-,
| who have the highest standing in the three
| upper classes. but they must reach a certain
| grade before they are eligible. The purpose
Is to distinguish scholarship in this age of
| athletic supremacy, and he who runs NAV
read the honor list of Williams in the direc-
tory of that building.
The rooms will be allotted after the an
nual examinations and the forty men in the
| three upper classes showing the highest
| standing are to be assigned rooms in that
building: They can remain as long as they
| retain their rank, but when any one falls
below the standard he goes back to the com
! mon herd. No student can occupy one of
these rooms, of course, longer than three
years, because freshmen cannot be admitted,
| and roll of immortals will be created,
| carving upon the walls tn, name Of every
| man who remains there three consecutive
years.
The Proposed Accommodations.
In addition to the living rooms the build
ing will contain an attractive reading room
and library with all the books of reference
or research that student may need upon
| the shelves. There will also be large,
well-furnished lounging and smoking room,
| where the occupants of the building may
meet at their pleasure and entertain their
| friends. These privileges will be extended
10 graduates who have occupied suites in
the dormitory, SO that the alumni who have
distinguished isI themselves for scholarship
may flock together in after years. like the
| members of the fraternities
| ihs unique plan was proposed by Prof
| Henry Loomis Nelson at the annual dinner
OF the New York alumni last February: 1t