page_title: Campus of Bates College
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Campus of Bates College / History
caption_attribution_description: Bates College, at Lewiston, Maine, United States.
context_page_description: The campus of Bates College includes a 133-acre main area, in Lewiston, Maine, and which is maintained by Bates College. It also includes a 600-acre Bates-Morse Mountain Conservation Area, and an 80-acre Coastal Center fresh water habitat at Shortridge. The eastern campus is situated around Lake Andrews, where many residential halls are located. The earliest buildings of the college were directly designed by Boston architect Gridley J.F. Bryant, and subsequent buildings follow his overall architectural template. The quad of the campus connects academic buildings, athletics arenas, and residential halls. The overall architectural design of the college can be traced through the Colonial Revival architecture movement, and has distinctive neoclassical, Georgian, and Gothic features. Many buildings are named after prominent abolitionists, politicians, businessmen, alumni, and academics.
context_section_description: Oren Burbank Cheney requested land and the sum of $15,000 from the Maine State Legislature to establish a college on what was then called "the finest piece of land in New England." The campus began to be created in 1854 with the development of Hathorn Hall, through the donation of Seth Hathorn, which was built on 20 acres of farmland purchased from A.R. Nash whose farm house ( now known as Nash House on College Street) was later acquired by the college and is now the campus' oldest building being constructed in 1849. The school was established as the Maine State Seminary.
  Hathorn Hall originally housed all academic departments and the top floor was used for a residential space for teachers and some students. With a growing need for space Parker Hall was constructed in 1857 and housed all faculty and students. The campus ran parallel to Frye Street, an area that was part of an affluent residential district of Lewiston. English colonists settled in the Maine area by the 1630s, however much of the college's architecture was heavily influenced by the Victorian era. The college acquired nearby Mount David to build an observatory in the 1860s. A small gymnasium was built to house meetings and special sporting events in 1867. One year later as student body grew John Bertram Hall was constructed, originally called Lyman Nichols Hall after a founder of Lewiston, it was renamed to remember John Bertram, a sea captain and large donor to the college. In 1890, Hedge Hall was constructed and named after Dr. Isaiah H. Hedge, who was a donor to its construction. In 1894, Roger Williams Hall, named after Roger Williams, was built to house the early administration and Cobb Divinity School. The first two residential houses were built in 1902, Milliken House, named after alumnus Carl E. Miliken and Whittier House. That same year Coram Library was constructed, followed three years later with Rand Hall, named after Mathematics professor John Rand. The college purchased the official residence of the president of the college, Cheney House, later in the year.
  Andrew Carnegie donated $50,000 in support of the construction to the science building, inspired by the philanthropic endeavors of fellow business magnate, Benjamin Bates. In 1914, workers form Quebec and Lewiston began to construct the college's chapel late renamed the Peter J. Gomes Chapel. Later that year Chase Hall was built to support a dining hall. In 1927, and the following year Gray Athletic Building was constructed followed by Alumni Gymnasium. Donors gave $150,000 to its construction and requested it be named after president Clifton Gray. Muskie Archives, named after Edmund Muskie in 1985, was originally completed in 1928 to serve as the women's gymnasium. Smith Hall was soon to follow in 1940, to house first year students. In the 1950s the campus witnessed rapid expansion with the construction of Pettergrew Hall, Page Hall, and Schaeffer Theatre.
  In the 1960s the administration moved from Roger Williams into Lane Hall, made possible through the donation of George Lane who donated $650,000. Five years later, Dana Chemistry Hall was built and named after honorary alumnus Charles A. Dana. In 1967, Wentworth Adams hall was constructed to serve as a men's dormitory. 
  Merrill Gymnasium was constructed in 1980 followed by the Olin Arts Center, six years later. The college's residential village was constructed in 1992, followed by Pettengill Hall in 1999. In April 2008, the college completed its dining complex named "The Commons" at a cost of approximately $24 million, designed by the Japanese architectural firm Sasaki Associates.  The complex is over 60,000 square feet, certified LEED Silver, and features occupancy sensors, anti-HCFC refrigerants, natural ventilation, heat islands, and five separate dining areas with almost 70% of the walls being glass paneling. The interior wood overlay features trees that were salvages from "an old Thomas Edison phonograph factory in Wisconsin."
caption: The college in the 1856, with Parker Hall and Hathorn Hall shown in foreground
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