This black and white photograph displays the front entrance of Springfield College's Hickory Hall. Notice above the door it says "Bemis Hall." Notice, too, the curb in the left hand corner of the image. This curb was Hickory Street, eventually the street that gave the Hall its new name. Hickory Hall, previously known as Bemis Hall, was the final item funded by Springfield College’s 7.3 million dollar Capital Campaign in 1974. It was located adjacent to Schoo Hall, known today as the Schoo-Bemis Science Center. Construction began in April, 1974 and the building was opened for full use in April of 1975. The new building, with a unique circular structure, was used as a life sciences building. Some innovative features included, moveable walls in lab areas, “dustless” marker boards, an interior ramp allowing handicapped access, faculty offices designed to accommodate seminar groups, and laboratories designed for specific areas of interest such as microscopy, physiology, plant biology, microbiology and genetics. Under the leadership of SC President Richard B. Flynn a complete renovation of Bemis Hall was undertaken. The new design focused on creating technology enhanced classrooms, replacing the life sciences laboratories and classrooms with an 80-seat semi-circular lecture hall and seven new classrooms. The newly renovated Hall was dedicated on September 27, 2007 along with the Schoo-Bemis Science Center (renovated at the same time). The Bemis name, along with the life science focus of the Hall, was moved to the new state-of-the-art Schoo-Bemis Science Center. Interestingly enough, Hickory Hall was actually supposed to be a place-holder name, being the name of the street that used to pass through the center of campus.
Text and images are owned, held, or licensed by Springfield College and are available for personal, non-commercial, and educational use, provided that ownership is properly cited. A credit line is required and should read: Courtesy of Springfield College, Archives and Special Collections. Any commercial use without written permission from Springfield College is strictly prohibited. Other individuals or entities other than, and in addition to, Springfield College may also own copyrights and other propriety rights. The publishing, exhibiting, or broadcasting party assumes all responsibility for clearing reproduction rights and for any infringement of United States copyright law.
Contact host institution for more information.
