Features
More than meets the eye, above and below ground
By Molly Geisinger ’19
April 21, 2016
Tags features
The atmosphere changes on the Hill once the thermometer hits 60 degrees, literally and figuratively While warmer weather allows students to expose their knees, it also uncovers the beautiful architecture for which the College is so famous. Now is the time to appreciate Hamilton’s layout, both above-ground and below.
One of the most-often overlooked aspects of the campus is the layout of the College. On a clement Spring day, students can be found eating outside or playing frisbee on any of the various quads.
The openness of the layout is a unique feature of the light side of campus.
“On the north side of College Hill Road, one has views through the gaps between the buildings to others, providing a feeling of openness and space. I love the change in the experience in these views, but also the personal feeling of well-being within the space,” says Steve Bellona, Associate Vice President for Facilities & Planning and Assistant Indoor & Outdoor Track & Field Programs.
The North side of campus is home to some of the oldest buildings on campus, most notably, Kirkland College. However, little do people know that the unassuming cottage has actually been relocated twice.
Originally, the white clapboard structure sat at the foot of College Hill Road in 1792. The College bought the charming cottage in 1875 and moved it to campus. Although its first home on top of the hill was in the College cemetery, it was moved in 1925 to the location it currently sits on today.
Beginning in 1975, students of each class have been invited to the College’s smallest cottage to mark one of the biggest attributes of their admission to Hamilton: signing the roster for matriculation.
Soper-Commons Dining Hall is another landmark on the light side, if not for its prime location, then for its function as one of the campus’ two main dining halls. However, Commons was not always the place to go to eat food.
Buttrick Hall was the original “Hall of Commons” back in 1812. It was the first building to be made of stone. In fact, it was the architecture of this particular building that set the model for the construction of most of the other stone buildings on the North side of campus. However, its role as a dining hall lasted just a short eight-year run. In 1834 it assumed its name from Horatio Gates Buttrick, the superintendent of buildings. By 1845, it became the birthplace of Elihu Root.
Although the North side of College Hill Road contains secrets of the College’s historical past, the South side also shares in some secrecy.
Perhaps unbeknownst to a few, below the brick pathways on the “dark” side is a more extensive basement that connects prominent buildings such as McEwen Dining Hall and Kirner-Johnson building.
Though spread apart above ground, the List Art Center and Wellin Hall are also connected to the McEwen-KJ basement. Perhaps, the next time the weather is unfavorable, these may be alternative travel routes for the students who dare to explore the below-ground passageways.
The history of Hamilton College is more than meets the eye, literally. With the absence of snow, there is a better opportunity to spend time outside and even admire the architecture that adds to Hamilton’s above- and below-ground layout.