The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-09-10
BUILDING FOR MIDDLEBURY.
Commons and Social Hall, the Gift Of
A. Barton Hepburn.

| In addition to the mems dormitory, the
gift of A. Barton Hepburn of New York,
an account of which was published some
weeks ago, Middlebury college is erecting
a commons and social hall for men, the
| gift of the same generous donor. Al
though connected by an enclosed passage
or loggia with the dormitory, the COM
mons is virtually an independent build
ing. The main feature is large dining
hall, 35x65 feet, sufficient to seat l25
comfortably. The ceiling is high, and
there are five large arched windows on
either side, making an imposing effect.
There will be a spacious fireplace at one
end of the room. 1t will be beautifully
finished in colonial design.
On the floor above, an equal space win
be devoted to social rooms, large COM
mon hall, headquarters for the Middle
bury union, the student governing
organization OF the men Of the college,
trophy room, and reading and game
rooms. These features are designed to
make the commons the social center for
the men of the college.
On the ground floor is kitchen store
room, milk room, coal room and large
bath room for servants.
The dormitory proper is five stories in
height and 65xl50 feet in external di-
mansions. 1t has wings at either end
allowing abundance of light and air for
each room. The arrangement of rooms
is unique a special design OF the archi.
tects, Rossiter & Muller of New York
Each two students have study, l2xl3
feet, with single sleeping room, 9xl2,
on either side, and between each two
sleeping rooms is toilet room exclusive
ly for the two students. II was Mr..
Hepburn's idea that men these days want
a room with private bath and that stu
dents should have the same privileges. |
The amount of plumbing provided in his |
dormitory is therefore extraordinary. |
The baths proper will appeal particular
to young men, being shower baths only |
two rooms of three showers each on every |
ioor
Both buildings will be as nearly fire.
proof as they can be made and the state
board of health has notified the college
that no external fire escapes would be
There will not be a wooden
loor in the buildings, all beng OF com
position with sanitary rounded corners.
Mr. Hepburn has been studying the
plans for these buildings for several
fears and has personally visited many OF
he leading colleges of the country for
IDEAS as 70 their construction. He was
impressed with the observation of the
,arnegie report that the Vermont col.
eyes, like those elsewhere, do not give
efficient attention to the environment
n which their students live and that Sin
lone Of them does the dormitory life
urnish an element in the students bet
erment" IL was this suggestion which
ed him 10 add the commons 10 the DOR
nitory he had originally planned and
lso TO include an attractive apartment
or those having care Of the building.
lis desire IL 20 equip Middlebury college
With as good accommodations. living, din
ne and social rooms. under one roof, as
hose possessed by any college in the ,
jnited Staotes.
The site Of the building-of course
/ will be known az Hepburn halls
0 the west Of the old college, nearly 100
eet above the village. commanding an =
Extensive view Of the otter valley, the 6
reen mountains and the Adirondacks. J
little 10 the north i the white marble 4
lead Memorial chapel, the spire Of which
under construction. n
The contract for both commons and a
ormitory has been LET 10 Thomas W.
ogers Of Brandon Allan Calhoun A J
on Of Middlebury have the heating and
lumbing. The buildings viii b. heated !,
' steam from the central, plant, built )
rye enough several years ago 20 pro
do for just such editions 20 ,..e plant
the college. II i expected that the
~ win be competed IN time for use
1ring the summer session n 1915. Z