Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-11-27
GROUND BROKEN
This Fall for Bates
Union Building
Action Of Trustees Pleasant Surprise
70 Students-Lone Pressing Need OF
Institution-WiIl Cost Approximate
ly seo,ooc

Lewiston, Me. Nov 26-The Bates
Union the building for which the stu
dents and faculty of Bates College have
been waiting for several years, is to be-
ccutive committee Of the board Of trus-
tees o. the college held here On Saturday
it was decided that the time had come TO
90 ahead with the plans for the construc-
ton. and ground will be broken for the
building this fall if the weather conditions
viii permit.
This action OF the trustees came is a
surprise to the students. for although a
meeting OF the board for the same pur-
pose had been held earlier in the week,
no intimat!on Of this fact had reached
the student body. 1t was generally IN
derstood that the money for the building
had been practically all secured. but no
immediate action was anticipated and the
announcement of this morning was dis
tinctly unexpected.
SATURDAYS meeting Of the hoard Of trus-
tees was a confirmation of that Of thS
previous Wednesday. AZ which it was
found impossible TO reach any definite
decision. Al Saturdays session. hoWev-
er il was agreed that every thing shoull'
be put in readiness this fail and winter
If order that the work might be complei>
ed Al quickly IS possible with the coming
OF sutab bic weather in the spring.
The Union Building has long been
one Of e most pressing needs Of the
this need
seemed to eclipse the necessity for a
new gymnasium, and President Chase
turned his attention to the former lie
secured gifts a5gregatinE $4,000 from
two friends of the college. and last
wear he announced That the board OF
trustees Of the institution had decided
to use new gift of 10000 TOR the
completion of the Bates Union Fund.
Since that time, there have been no
developments in the matter. until the
announcement Of this morning.
The new building will occupy the VA
cant corner of Campus avenue and
Rardwell street The fact that the
plans were furnished by Coolidge and
Carlson. Of Boston. is sufficient guar
antee that the building will be credit
architecturally to the campus. Mr..
Carlson Of the firm has been in Lew
iston several times to talk over the
plans with the committed, His firm
viii be remembered as the designers
rot the plans for the Bates chapel.
The Union building will cost approx
in1ately $4,000. 1t will resemble in
some RESPECTS the Dartmouth Union.
in that il viii FIJI similar need in the
If If the students. The building will
be hcadauartcr for tho Eates Y. NJ {.
A. Il will be the center Of the social
life among tho mon students and VIII
provide for meeting places for the va
rious literary societies and other stu
dent organizations which at present
have nc regular place Of meeting. Pool
and billiard rooms viii hc provided for.
and it IS expected that the building
will include an auditorium secat ting
= bout coo persons. There will be read
ing and rest rooms, and furnished
rooms. and furnished rooms for the
Use Of alumni and visitors of the col
lCgo.
The contract will probably be award
"a this week. No official announc~ :
ment has as yet been made, but it is
Understood that there are several de-
tails yet to be decided upon. Several
bids have been received, including Bos-
( ton and Portland firms.