Packard Hall

Last updated
Packard Hall
Packard Hall - Tufts University - IMG 0971.JPG
Packard Hall
Packard Hall
Former namesMiddle Hall
General information
TypeClassroom
Architectural style Italianate
Town or city Medford, Massachusetts
CountryUS
Coordinates 42°24′29″N71°07′10″W / 42.407937°N 71.119354°W / 42.407937; -71.119354
Named forSylvanus Packard
Opened1856
Renovated1885
Cost$9,715
OwnerTufts University
Technical details
MaterialBrick
Floor countTwo
Renovating team
Renovating firmWilliam Rawn Associates

Packard Hall, originally known as Middle Hall is a historic academic building on the campus of Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts. Built in 1856, it was Tufts' second building constructed on Walnut Hill following Ballou Hall in 1852. The building currently houses the Department of Political Science.

Contents

Description

The original section was a three-story-high, unembellished brick structure with arched windows and a modest entryway. The building is capped by a high pitched roof broken by dormer windows. The building originally had three tall chimneys which were removed when the building primarily became the library. The building later was ornamented with the addition of pediment detail, a cornice molding, corner quoins, and an enlarged entryway. A half-hexagonal turret with neo-gothic trimmed windows was added in 1885 during the library conversion. The building has largely retained its added ornamentation. [1]

History

After the opening of Ballou Hall, the board of trustees reorganized and recognized the need for a new dormitory. On May 29, 1855, they voted to authorize the Building Committee to erect a new building across from Ballou at a cost of $9,715. When the building was finished in 1856, it became known as Building A. Starting in 1885, it was known as Middle Hall and as the library. Prior to the construction of Eaton Library, the Tufts collection was dispersed between Packard and Ballou. The first floor of Packard accommodated reading rooms, while the second floor housed stacks. A half-hexagonal turret topped by a finial was added during the library conversion. Middle Hall was renamed Packard Hall in 1908 when the library moved to Eaton. The building was named after Sylvanus Packard, one of the first benefactors of the college. [2]

Throughout its existence Packard Hall was plagued with structural problems, including moisture seepage and bulging walls. Fire hazard required students to move out in 1901, since wood stoves and fireplaces were not deemed safe for the building. When the library moved out, the building became the headquarters of the Crane Theological School and then the Department of English. During the 1930s, it was considered to be demolished to make way for a large graduate hall that would accommodate the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. [3] In the 1970s, the building was renovated, and in 2008, William Rawn fully restored the building and added a four-story tower on the west side containing a second stairway and elevator. Afterwards, the building went to the Department of Political Science. [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tufts University</span> Private university in Medford and Somerville, Massachusetts, U.S.

Tufts University is a private research university located in the Greater Boston area. The main campus is located in the Walnut Hill neighborhood of the towns of Medford and Somerville, Massachusetts, with additional facilities located in Boston and Grafton, Massachusetts, and in Talloires, France. It was founded in 1852 as Tufts College by Christian universalists who sought to provide a nonsectarian institution of higher learning. Tufts remained a small liberal arts college until the 1970s, when it transformed into a large research university offering several doctorates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfred Waterhouse</span> British architect (1830–1905)

Alfred Waterhouse was an English architect, particularly associated with the Victorian Gothic Revival architecture, although he designed using other architectural styles as well. He is perhaps best known for his designs for Manchester Town Hall and the Natural History Museum in London, although he also built a wide variety of other buildings throughout the country. Besides his most famous public buildings he designed other town halls, the Manchester Assize buildings—bombed in World War II—and the adjacent Strangeways Prison. He also designed several hospitals, the most architecturally interesting being the Royal Infirmary Liverpool and University College Hospital London. He was particularly active in designing buildings for universities, including both Oxford and Cambridge but also what became Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds universities. He designed many country houses, the most important being Eaton Hall in Cheshire, largely demolished in 1961-63. He designed several bank buildings and offices for insurance companies, most notably the Prudential Assurance Company. Although not a major church designer he produced several notable churches and chapels. He was both a member of The Royal Institute of British Architects, of which he served a term as President, and a Royal Academician, acting as Treasurer for the Royal Academy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eaton Hall (Tufts University)</span> Library, classroom in Massachusetts, US

Eaton Hall, built in 1908 as Eaton Memorial Library, used to be the main library building at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts. The historic building was designed by Whitfield & King and donated to the university by Andrew Carnegie. It was one of the first college libraries built with Carnegie funds and is one of the few that never bore his name. Today the building houses departmental offices, classrooms and a computer lab.

Amos Eaton Hall is the current home of the Department of Mathematical Sciences at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY. It is named for Amos Eaton, the co-founder and first senior professor of Rensselaer. Amos Eaton Hall is the only building on the campus referred to by both first and last name. The building opened in 1928.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eaton Hall (Oregon)</span> Building on the Willamette University campus in Salem, Oregon, U.S.

Eaton Hall is an academic building on the campus of Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, United States. Completed in 1909, the four-story brick and stone hall is the fourth oldest building on the campus of the school after Waller Hall (1867), Gatke Hall (1903), and the Art Building (1907). Eaton is a mix of architectural styles and houses the humanities departments of the liberal arts college.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helen Newberry Nurses Home</span> United States historic place

The Helen Newberry Nurses Home is a multi-unit residential building located at 100 East Willis Avenue in Midtown Detroit, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008, and is now the Newberry Hall Apartments.

The Crane Theological School was a Universalist seminary at Tufts University founded in 1869 as the Tufts College Divinity School and closed in 1968. It was one of three Universalist seminaries founded in America during the nineteenth century, along with the Theological School of St. Lawrence University and the Ryder Divinity School at Lombard College. During its history, it granted 281 Bachelor of Divinity degrees, 152 Bachelor of Sacred Theology degrees, and two Masters of Religious Education, for a total of 435 degrees.

Leland Castle is a building in New Rochelle, New York. It was constructed during the years in 1855 - 1859 in the Gothic Revival style, and was the country residence of Simeon Leland, a wealthy New York City hotel proprietor. Leland began to assemble an estate as early as 1848, and in 1855, began the erection of this palatial 60-room mansion. The home was designed by New York City architect William Thomas Beers. A north and south wing were added to the castle in 1899 and 1902 respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joshua L. Chamberlain Museum</span> Museum in Maine, United States

The Joshua L. Chamberlain Museum was the home of American Civil War general, Bowdoin College president, and Maine Governor Joshua L. Chamberlain for over 50 years. Located at the corner of Maine and Potter Streets in Brunswick, Maine, the house is now open seasonally to the public and is in the process of being restored as it was when Chamberlain lived there.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adana Center for Arts and Culture</span> State Building in Adana, Turkey

Adana Center for Arts and Culture is a public facility for cultural events, operating at the historical state building of Adana that served as a school for most of its history. The center is located on the west bank of Seyhan River just south of the Taşköprü, on Seyhan Street.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Paul's Episcopal Church (Durant, Iowa)</span> United States historic place

St. Paul's Episcopal Church is a parish church in the Diocese of Iowa. The church is located in Durant, Iowa, United States. The church building and parish hall have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1985.

The former Spaulding School Building is a historic structure that has overlooked the city of Barre, Vermont, United States, since 1891. It now houses the Vermont History Center, the home of the Vermont Historical Society.

The history of Tufts University, originally Tufts College, can be traced back to 1847 when the Universalist Church set up convention for the creation of a university for the parish. In 1858, the college was established when Boston businessman Charles Tufts donated 20 acres of land to the church to establish the college. It is the third oldest college that was founded in the Boston area. During the 19th century the college grew. The official college seal, bearing the motto Pax et Lux was adopted in 1857. The school colors of brown and blue were selected in 1876. Tufts' mascot became Jumbo when P.T. Barnum gave a natural history museum to the university.

The library system of Tufts University supports all academic departments comprising the university, located in Greater Boston in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. The main library is Tisch Library, which holds about 2.5 million volumes, with other holdings dispersed at subject libraries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goddard Chapel (Tufts University)</span> Chapel in Massachusetts, US

Goddard Chapel, built in 1883, is the main religious building at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts. The historic chapel was built in the Lombard Romanesque style.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ballou Hall</span> Administrative in Massachusetts, US

Ballou Hall is a historic academic building on the campus of Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts. Its cornerstone was laid in 1853 and the building was completed the following year. Designed by Gridley J.F. Bryant, it was Tufts' first academic building following the College's establishment by a group of Universalists. The building was later restored by McKim, Mead, and White and remains the center of administration for the university.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Hall (Tufts University)</span> Classroom, meeting space in Massachusetts, US

East Hall is a historic academic building on the campus of Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts. Built in 1860 and designed by Thomas Silloway, it was Tufts' third building constructed on Walnut Hill following Ballou Hall in 1852 and Middle Hall in 1856. The building currently houses the Departments of English and History.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goddard Hall (Tufts University)</span> Library, gymnasium in Massachusetts, US

Goddard Hall, originally known as Goddard Gymnasium, is a historic academic building on the campus of Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts. Built in 1883 and designed by George Albert Clough, it was originally built to serve Tufts students as a gymnasium. In 1892, the building was remodeled and in 1930, the building was handed over to the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy for use as a library.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Courthouse Square Museum</span> United States historic place

The Courthouse Square Museum is a former government building, and current historical museum, located at 100 West Lawrence Avenue in Charlotte, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">County Hall, Aberaeron</span> Municipal Building in Aberaeron, Wales

County Hall, formerly Aberaeron Town Hall, is a municipal building in Market Street, Aberaeron, Ceredigion, Wales. The structure, which is now used as a public library, is a Grade II listed building.

References

  1. Tolles Jr., Bryant F. (2011). Architecture & Academe: College Buildings in New England before 1860. University Press of New England. p. 135.
  2. 1 2 Russell, Miller E. (1966) Light on the Hill: A History of Tufts College (1852-1952).
  3. Bennett, John; Branco, Jessica; Crowley, Zachary; Sauer, Anne (2000). Concise Encyclopedia of Tufts History.