Earlier this week, we were working with a researcher who was interested in the history of a number of campus buildings. We were all fascinated to learn, while reading about the construction of Dewey Hall, about the origins of the Upper Parade Ground.
The Upper Parade Ground as it appeared during commencement weekend in 1974.
When the earliest buildings, “Old” Jackman Hall and “Old” Dodge Hall, were erected on the Northfield site, their entrances faced away from the current Upper Parade Ground, toward the Northfield town center. This was presumably because the terrain at the bottom of that hill, the current site of Sabine Field, was naturally flatter and more conducive to military drills and parades. Thus, this was the first Parade Ground.
View of Old Jackman and Old Dodge Halls, showing the original parade ground at the bottom of the hill. This photo was taken during commencement around 1895.
When Dewey Hall was being planned in the late 1890s, the original intent was to build it between Jackman and Dodge Halls–a pretty tight space, as you can see! According to an account in the Reveille, it was the landscape architect assigned to the project who suggested that the hilly area behind the existing buildings be leveled off so that Dewey could be built to the east of Dodge.
A later image showing the relative placement of Dewey, Dodge, and Jackman Halls around the new Upper Parade Ground.
The regrading process required the movement of an estimated 9,000 cubic yards of earth, and uncovered an impressively large square stone that was used as the cornerstone of Dewey Hall.
The cornerstone of Dewey Hall ready for its ceremonial placement, 1899. The stone itself was unearthed during the regrading that created the Upper Parade Ground.
And thus the landscape of Norwich University began to take shape! There’s no predicting what fun facts will be unearthed in the University Archives Reading Room. Join us sometime!
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