Wintery photo of the Administration Building at Springfield College

A photograph of the administration building during the winter taken some time around the turn of the century. The photograph is taken from a road that once ran in front of the building, Hickory Street, and features two men standing in front of the entrance.The Administration Building was originally constructed as the college’s first dormitory and also housed classrooms, the dining hall and the school’s first dining facility. Construction began on the dormitory (Administration Building) the last week in April of 1895 and the corner stone of the building was laid on Friday, May 10th, 1985 with President Charles H. Barrows officiating. The dedication took place on June 17th, 1896, at which, President Barrows introduced the college’s fourth President, Laurence L. Doggett. Consummating the transfer to the new campus, the completion of the new dormitory (Administration Building) in January 1896 was a milestone in Springfield College history. With the erection of the first building, the East gymnasium (1894), and the new dormitory (Administration), Springfield College began to lay permanent roots on the land along Lake Massasoit. In 1943, the dormitory did not meet the city’s fire safety codes. In order to meet these codes and house the administration offices of the Naval Convalescent Hospital the following year, the dormitory was reduced from four floors to two floors, with a flat roof on the second story. The renovations and remodeling that took place from 1943-1944, leaving the building as it appears today.The is another image on the other side of this photograph. Appears that the page came out of a scrapbook. To see other picture, see: rg110-05-03-10-005 or http://cdm16122.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15370coll2/id/1605