Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-27
OLD HARVARD SOON
TO Be BUT MEMORY
Sweeping Program of Recon-
struction to Alter Mode
of Student Life.

Members of the class of 1890, re-
turning to Cambridge this Fall, will
be the last undergraduates to live their
four college years entirely in what will
soon come to be known as "Old Har-
ward" For new Harvard is rapidly
being evolved on the banks of the
Charles River, and after the gradua-
ton of this senior class no student can
pass through the four years OF college
curriculum and not be vitality affected
by the changes which are already be-
ginning to manifest themselves.
These changes extend to almost every
phase of undergraduate existence, and
will of necessity produce profound physi-
the Cambridge scene. The class OF 80
will be the last to graduate without
benefit of Hardness.
Excavations Are Seen.
Those familiar with the general area
between the river and Mount Auburn
street few months ago would scarcely
recognize it today.
The sites of the first two units of
the House Plan" the first directly
behind Gore Hall and the other at the
corner of the river embankment and
Plimpton street are now designated by
excavations in comparison to which the
huge hole which last Spring marked the
start of the new gymnasium would seem
as nothing.
The excavation for the house to be
erected north of Gore Hall Is completed.
The plot for the second of the two
houses on Memorial Drive has been
cleared of dwellings and the process of
houses in this vicinity have been done
away with. either demolished or re-
modelled for use by members Of the
college faculty, and moved to lots far
ther down the river. What formerly
was the freshman library now reposes
grotesquely on stills in the center Of
the lawn adjacent to Standish and
Smith Halls. Whether or not this is
to be a permanent disposal Of 1t, no.
body seems to know. Various other
structures may be encountered, being
rolled down side stress or Shunted into
lots.
The two houses already under way
are to be ready for the start of the
academic experiment year from this
Fall, but the third structure. which is
probably to be erected upon the site of
the Boston Elevated Railway power
house, at the junction of Memorial
Drive and Boylston street. a property
already acquired by the university, will
The other important building venture
already under way is the new gym
nasium and athletic building. The
cement foundations and the greater part
of the structural steel work are COM
pleted. and it is hoped that the build
ing will be ready for occupancy by the
end of the calendar year. 1t will not
have reached its architectural compile
ton at that time, however, because
d.
build two top floors, and temporary
roof will be placed over the second floor
until an alumnus can be discovered who
will supply the deficit. This state of
affairs has proved slightly embarrassing
to the university administration on one
or two occasions. When toward the
end of the last college year the Har-
ward Athletic Association found itself
in possession of surplus Of several hum
bred thouand dollars it was suggested
by both the director Of the asSociatioe
and by the Crimson that the costs of
the gymnasium be met out OF this bal
ance. The suggestions were rejected
by the university administration. Sub
sequently the administration decided
to release a portion OF the athletic as
sociation's surplus for this purpose, but
even so. more funds must come to hand.
Many Minor Alterations.
In addition to these important build
ing plans there are minor alterations
and engagements taking place, such as
the construction of the new stadium
stands at Soldiers Field, the erection OF
new wings connected with the Baker
Library in the Business School and the
renovation of Boylston Hall in the yard.
All this physical Transformation IS
the background for more far-reach-
ing and widespread alteration in the
academic and social life of the under
graduate. The time is almost at hand
when the elms of the yard will no
longer shade the ancient and exclusive
abodes of Seniors for it is planned to
turn the yard dormitories over to fresh
men when the new houses are COM
pleted.
The problem OF the clubs which line
the reaches of the Gold Coast" along
Mount Auburn street has yet to be
solved. Whether they can contrive to
bear their already oppressive financial
burdens with many of their members