Dewey Hall was completed in 1902, the third building to be built on the Northfield campus of Norwich University and the oldest building still standing today. We've posted in the past about its namesake Admiral George Dewey and about the role the building played in establishing today's Upper Parade Ground. Today we thought we'd take you on a journey through Dewey Hall's many incarnations.
Architectural sketch of the original concept for Dewey Hall ca. 1899
Dewey was originally conceived as a drill hall with an anticipated construction cost of $20,000. The earliest references to raising funds for a building in honor of Admiral Dewey came in November of 1898 mere months after he achieved victory in the Battle of Manila Bay.
Cornerstone laying ceremony for Dewey Hall 1899. Admiral Dewey is pictured in the front row of the crowd.
When it opened in the fall of 1902, the building was used as a catch-all for every function that could no longer fit in the barracks (Jackman Hall) and classroom building (Dodge Hall). This included administrative offices, an assembly hall, the library and museum, the chapel, and space for the U.S. Weather Bureau, which operated a station in Northfield.
Postcard depicting the chapel inside Dewey Hall ca. 1913
With the opening of a new library building (Carnegie, now Chaplin Hall) in 1908 and a dedicated weather bureau building (today's Ainsworth Hall) in 1910, more and more of Dewey Hall's space was dedicated to the university's growing academic departments.
Dewey Hall as it appeared in its early years. This image circa 1917-1925.
It's difficult not to notice that Dewey Hall looks significantly different in old photographs from the building we know today. It was originally constructed as a two-story building with a pitched roof. However, a fire destroyed the roof and upper level in October 1925, 90 years ago this month. When the building was rebuilt, the opportunity was taken to add the third story that is familiar to us today.
Dewey Hall fire, October 1925
Cadets and others stand inside the burned portion of Dewey Hall the day after the fire October 1925
With the construction of more academic buildings throughout the 20th century, Dewey became dedicated exclusively to administrative offices by the 1960s. In the mid-1960s, the original Jackman and Dodge Halls were taken down and replaced with the current Jackman Hall administration building. Dewey Hall made the transition to a fully academic function which it retains today.
Dewey Hall, 1951
With a renovation planned as part of the Forging the Future bicentennial campaign, we look forward to Dewey Hall's bright future!
--Mary Margaret
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