Coolidge Hall

by Romano Ghirlanda

A BRIEF HISTORY

The Coolidge Hall was built in 1947 on what was known as the Buell Estate. It was originally called ‘The Grace Coolidge Hall’, named after the graceful and elegant Grace Goodhue Coolidge, wife of Calvin Coolidge, the 30th President of the United States, both born in the state of Vermont. In fact, Grace Goodhue attended the University of Vermont in September of 1897. And though she dropped out in November due to an illness, she enrolled again the following September and was part of the class of 1902.¹ In 1921, the University of Vermont presented Mrs. Grace Goodhue Coolidge with an honorary degree at commencement.

In 1948, a dedication ceremony was held at the newly constructed Grace Coolidge Hall in which Grace Coolidge was to attend, but at the last minute cancelled her trip. Her charm and graceful personality came through when she sent a bouquet of flowers to the dedication.²  It was not until 1987 when the entryway of Coolidge Hall was given a portrait of Grace Goodhue Coolidge along with her biography.³

A quote by the New York Times gives an excellent portrayal of the former First Lady: “The graciousness, the tact, the simple dignity, the personal charm which in Mrs. Coolidge inspire and enrich the nation are not singular to her. They are common to Vermont womanhood.”⁴

THE STRUCTURE

Coolidge Hall was built to house the growing number of woman attending the University of Vermont. Though initially it was an all-female dormitory, today it houses both male and female students. It exhibits the architectural design known as the International Style, more often referred to as ‘minimalist’ architecture, in which the three main building materials are steel, concrete, and glass.⁵

This type of design originated in Europe after World War I and began emerging in the United States after World War II. One of the distinct features of this style is the lack of ornamental features that is evident in the Richardsonian Romanesque Style found on the nearby Robinson Hall, Redstone Hall, and Redstone Lodge.

The architectural firm, McKim, Mead & White, designed Coolidge Hall as well as eight other buildings at the University, including the Ira Allen Chapel.⁶ However, Coolidge Hall has one distinct feature that sets it aside from any other building on the Redstone Campus – its angled construction. Coolidge Hall is comprised of three attached buildings, each having its own main entrance. The center faces the Redstone Green while the two attached adjacent buildings are angled at 45 degrees inward so that each faces its own view of the Green.

Coolidge Hall as a whole contains three floors and a lower level floor. There are a total of 93 rooms, plus a laundry area and recreational rooms. There is also a small crawl space at the northern most section of the dormitory. The total square footage is 29,584.

The outside façade is constructed of brick with a subtle design outlining the front elevation of the center building and the top of each adjacent building using lighter colored bricks, some of which are white. This aesthetic gives Coolidge Hall a delicate pattern of antiquity.

UPGRADES AND RENOVATIONS

Very few renovations and upgrades were done to the original building. Five years after its construction, in 1952, all the recreation rooms were upgraded with the installation of 2000 feet of acoustical tiles on the ceilings.⁷ These tiles absorbed much of the noise within these rooms, which lessened the projected sounds to adjacent rooms and/or dorms. Eight years later, in 1960, a program was underway by the Sophomore Aides to build up the supplemental library at Coolidge Hall. To help build the library, a notice was sent out to UVM Alumni and parents asking for donations of any literary work.⁸

THE EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM

By 1968, many universities and colleges throughout the nation were being challenged by the growing number of students. This created a large, diverse population within a college campus. Different ethnic groups, large classroom sizes, segregation of male and female that were deemed no longer viable, all created an atmosphere that many students and faculty began to question.  The large classroom sizes with different levels of scholars began limiting the participation that is normally found and encouraged in small classrooms.⁹

The University of Vermont responded to these concerns by creating ‘The Experimental Program’ under the direction of Robert Daniels.¹⁰

The designated location for this program was Coolidge Hall.

The main focal point of the Experimental Program was to deviate from the standard classroom model of teaching where lectures were replaced with the exchange of knowledge between students and faculty, and marked exams were replaced with written evaluations. The term ‘seminars’ was used to replace ‘classroom’, and all ‘seminars’ were held within Coolidge Hall.

“Relying heavily on personal motivation, the seminars’ success depends to a large extent on how quickly students could drop their old conceptions of grades and other sources of outside pressures that have been the traditional inducements to perform. Some seminars languished as others made rapid progress. The prevalent attitude among participants is that once a student becomes confident in this new atmosphere his performance will improve.”¹¹

Throughout this program, Coolidge Hall was referred to as Coolidge Community, indicating a level of equality within Coolidge Hall. “As an autonomous unit, the program rejected the traditional view of government. Students and faculty are on a totally equal basis. Community meetings decide all issues since there is no representative government.”¹²

Unfortunately, after two years the program’s coverage in local newspapers fizzled and the Experimental Program seemed to have silently dismantled.

A DEDICATION

In June of 1950, five students from Coolidge Hall decided that a break from the heat was in order and ventured to Huntington Gorge in Richmond, Vermont. Amongst those students was a twenty-one year old senior named Marjorie G. Goeltz. Unbeknownst to them, the gorge had  powerful undercurrents that proved deadly. Marjorie accidently slipped on a rock and fell into the water. The strong current pulled her under she got trapped in rocks. The following year, in 1951, a recreation room at Coolidge Hall was dedicated to Marjorie G. Goeltz. She was a “popular senior who lost her life by drowning a week before she was to be graduated in June 1950.”¹³ She is the first name on the plaque at the Huntington Gorge remembering those that have also died there.

FOOTNOTES

1. “Four New Dormitories are Dedicated,” The Vermont Alumni News, March 1948, 47.
2. Ibid.
3. “Grace Coolidge room to be dedicated,” Vermont, August 1987, 30.
4. Ibid.
5. “Summary of the International Style,” The Art Story, www.theartstory.org/movement/international-style/
6. “McKim, Mead & White,” Wikipedia, last modified October 30, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McKim,_Mead_%26_White
7. “Summer Face – Lifting Operations,” UVM Notes, November 1952, 4.
8. “Coolidge Hall Library,” Bulletin of the University of Vermont, February 15, 1960, 4.
9. “Coolidge,” Ariel, 1970, 87.
10. Vermont, Spring 1983, 15.
11. “Coolidge,” Ariel, 1970, 87.
12. Ibid.
13. UVM Notes, February 1952, 16.

PHOTO CREDITS

Figure 1.1. McKim, Mead, & White – Architects, November 21, 1946. Courtesy of UVM Special Collections.
Figure 1.2. Redstone Campus Collection - UVM Special Collections.
Figure 1.3. Sketch of top view of Coolidge Hall, Romano Ghirlanda, October 30, 2019.
Figure 1.4. “Coolidge,” Ariel, 1970, 86.
Figure 1.5. “Class of 1950,” Ariel, 1950, 50.

Robinson Hall

by Romano Ghirlanda

Walking along South Prospect Street in Burlington, Vermont, one can easily find a break from the flow of buildings and homes that outline the east side of the road. The open area is highlighted on sunny days and the green grass accentuates brilliantly during the summer months. Hugging the sidewalk is a redstone wall that borders this area, known as the Redstone Green. But looking beyond the wall and well-manicured grass, lies three structures that possess a magnificent architectural style known as the Richardsonian Romanesque.

This is the area that was once known as the Buell Estate, now part of the Redstone Campus, and owned by Andrew Addison Buell, a lumber baron in the 1880s and vice president of Horatio Hickok Lumber.¹ He was one of the wealthiest businessmen in the area. With his fortune, he built three structures using Monkton quartzite, commonly known as ‘redstone’, from the nearby Willard’s Ledge.² One of those structures was the Buell Carriage House, known today as Robinson Hall.

THE STRUCTURE

Robinson Hall is a marvel in design. It exhibits an excellent version of the Richardsonian Romanesque architectural style, which is evident in its counterparts – Redstone Lodge and Redstone Hall. The architects, Marling & Burdett, designed all three of Andrew Buell’s buildings with this style. It is interesting to note that prior to establishing their firm, Herbert C. Burdett had worked with Henry H. Richardson in designing the Billings Library, built in 1885.

After Richardson passed away in 1886, Burdett partnered with Marling and established themselves as the architectural firm Marling & Burdett.³ Together they continued designing ‘Richardson’ buildings, which included the Buell Estate.

The Buell Carriage House was built in 1889 and used as a carriage house and horse stable by the Buell family (see Figure 2.2). There were three distinguishable characteristics of the original carriage house. The first were the three large towers with conical caps – one at the ell of the main entrance and two at the west elevation. The second were two smaller cupolas with conical caps at the ridge of the roof. Finally, the third were three small dormers facing north and two larger dormers at the east elevation (see Figure 2.3). Collectively, these gave the Buell Carriage House a perfect rendition of the Richardsonian Romanesque style.

The Buell Estate was purchased by the University of Vermont in 1921 through what was referred to as a “good business judgment and far-sightedness for the institution” by then President Guy W. Bailey of the university.

The building was quickly converted into a woman’s dormitory by Louis S. Newton, and by the fall of 1921 the Carriage House was officially renamed Robinson Hall, in honor of Wallace F. Robinson.⁴

The most significant changes to the exterior of the building were the removal of the two small cupolas on the roof peak and the three small dormers. However, these changes were minor compared to the extensive interior renovations designed by architect, Louis S. Newton. Once the interior renovations were completed, no traces of a old stables were evident. Instead, the first floor expressed a graceful style of elegance. There was a formal dining room, sitting room, kitchen, and reception room. The dormitories were located on the second floor with nineteen rooms and a matron’s room.

Robinson Hall was considered one of the finest women’s dormitories in the country.⁵ Not only was the exterior a captivating marvel, the interior was designed with such glamour and charm that it became the ideal location for many organized dinners, banquets, luncheons, formal gatherings, and even an elegant Thanksgiving party and after-dinner dance.⁶ Decorative columns separated rooms, with large trim accentuating the ceilings and floors.

In 1931, Robinson Hall won the annual Mortar Board award, which recognized pleasant and healthy living conditions. The reward was a $20 gold piece.⁷

Robinson Hall remained a dormitory for sixty-one years, where over 1,200 students had made it their home during its time. By 1982, the University of Vermont decided to renovate Robinson Hall and to convert it into the Office of Residential Life.⁸

Robinson Hall has a total of 9,164 square feet in usable space. The first floor ceiling are 12 feet in height, while the second floor ceilings are 10 feet. There is a basement located under the east section.

INFIRMARY

There is a small, hidden history to Robinson Hall that dates back to 1921. In order to understand this history, one must know the first Dean of Woman at the University of Vermont, Pearl Randall Wasson. Dean Wasson passed away on September 11, 1922. She was a very prominent and well-respected woman in the State of Vermont. After her passing, many of her friends established a memorial under her name to commemorate her service to the University – The Wasson Memorial Infirmary. The main purpose of the memorial was to raise funds to find and to secure a more suitable infirmary that, at the time of her death, was located at the Robinson Hall, consisting simply of two beds and a nurse.⁹

For twenty-two years, Robinson Hall served as the home of UVM’s Wasson Infirmary. In 1944, however, the Wasson Infirmary was moved from the Robinson Hall to Wheeler House at 442 Main Street, where it was located until 1975 when Wheeler House was then renovated to become the home of the UVM Historic Preservation Program and History Department.

In 1992, Robinson Hall was listed as a contributing resource in the Redstone National Register Historic District, based on a nomination commissioned by the University of Vermont and researched by the UVM Historic Preservation Program.

FOOTNOTES

1. Burlington City and Winooski Directory for 1911 (L.P. Waite & Co., Publishers, 1911), 80.
2. “Finding Burlington’s Past in Redstone Quarry,” Burlington Parks Recreation Waterfront, accessed November 1, 2019, https://enjoyburlington.com/Redstone quarry/.
3. “Marling & Burdett in Buffalo, NY,” Buffalo as an Architectural Museum, accessed October 30, 2019, https://buffaloah.com/a/archs/mb/
4. “Robinson Hall to be New Dorm,” Vermont Alumni Weekly, October 5, 1921, 10.
5. “On The Campus,” Vermont Alumni Weekly, December 14, 1921, 9.
6. “Campus News and Events of the Week,” Vermont Alumni Weekly, December 1, 1926, 142; “New England College Librarians,” Vermont Alumni Weekly, June 2, 1926, 490.
7. “University Attendance Slightly Exceeds that of Last Year,” Vermont Alumni Weekly, October 14, 1931, 26.
8. “Redstone Added To Historic Register,” The University of Vermont Quarterly, Spring 1992, 3.
9. “Profile of a First Lady and Her Legacy,”The University of Vermont Alumni Magazine, June 1975, 8.

PHOTO CREDITS

Figure 2.1. Robinson Hall, View facing southwest, October 1, 2019, Romano Ghirlanda
Figure 2.2. Redstone Campus Collection - UVM Special Collections
Figure 2.3. M. Coleman. Twitchell, Winter 1900. National Register, Photo 16, 87-A-165.
Figure 2.4. “Robinson Hall,” Ariel, 1924, 15.
Figure 2.5. “Sitting Room at Robinson Hall,” Ariel, 1924, 27.
Figure 2.6. “Entrance to Robinson Hall,” Ariel, 1924, 17.

460 South Prospect Street

by Romano Ghirlanda

Walking along South Prospect, it is easy to notice the multitude of different buildings and homes within Redstone Campus. From the extravagant historic buildings of Robinson Hall, Redstone Hall, and the Music Building to the simple, quaint administrative buildings that are within the boundaries of the campus, each having its own unique history.

The administration buildings on South Prospect were constructed initially as a home where families gathered, played, went to school and socialized. This included the small, brick house at 460 South Prospect Street – originally the home of Daniel B. Carroll - that currently provides offices for UVM Continuing and Distance Education.

DANIEL B. CARROLL

Daniel B. Carroll was a professor of Political Science at the University of Vermont from 1924 to 1953, and its chairman from 1939 until his death.¹ He was also an Honorary Member of Sigma Delta Psi and the president of the Vermont Department of the Reserve Officers Association.² Throughout his career, Professor Carroll engaged in many presentations and spoke on different topics to leadership groups. One of his main topics was the benefits of the two-party system of government when compared to the other countries.³ He also wrote “The Unicameral Legislature of Vermont” which was given to and published by the Vermont Historical Society. In his writing he points out that Vermont has “retained the one-chamber scheme of legislation much longer than any other American state and its experience therefore should yield valuable data for comparison of the merits of the unicameral and bicameral systems.”⁴ One of his main focal points in his teachings was Unicameralism, which is evident in his stand-alone article in the Vermont Alumnus in its December 1938 issue.⁵

HIS RESIDENCE

Professor Carroll’s first place of residence in Burlington, Vermont was 15 North Williams Street. He married Viola Louise Thnering on June 8, 1925 and continued living at this location until 1940.⁶

On October 22, 1937, the University of Vermont sold a small parcel of land measuring 85 feet by 200 feet to Professor Carroll and his wife, Viola, for one dollar.⁷ The location was much closer than his current residence, which was more than welcoming to the Carroll family. The land was to be used to build a residential home for him and his wife. The structure was funded entirely by Daniel Carroll. According to the land deed, the land (and any structure therein) are to be given back to the University when Daniel and his wife passed away.

Professor Carroll built his two-story, single-family structure on 460 South Prospect Street based on the layout and style of his home on 15 North Williams Street, but with a slight increase square footage. A lower floor was also added that was made possible by the gradual slope of the property, creating a walk out to the back yard. The house also has a shoot, most likely for laundry, located at the center of the house that extends to the lower level where a washroom with a concrete sink is also located. Most of the walls in the lower level have exposed brick giving them a rustic appearance.

But the most obvious upgrade was the brick exterior that surrounded the house, one of only two houses on the Redstone campus with a full brick exterior.

Daniel and Viola raised their three children in this house – Daniel, Louise, and Robert. All three went to local schools and furthered their education. In fact, Robert Carroll attended the University of Vermont and became a political science professor for Smith College.⁸

Professor Daniel B. Carroll passed away April 19, 1959. The house remained with his wife, Viola Carroll, until her death on April 12, 1975.

On October 9, 1980, the house and lot was sold to Joel B. and Laura Gratwick, who only stayed in the house under two years. The house was then sold to William F. and Susan B. Yanda on June 29, 1982. By 1985, the house was used as for offices of the university's George Bishop Lane Series. That same year, the administrative offices for UVM Continuing Education also moved to the home, and continues to reside at the location.⁹

UPDATES

A minor update to the house was done by the University of Vermont in October of 1990 when a wooden door hood with support columns was added to help deflect snow and ice falling from the roof.

There is little doubt that Professor Carroll would be proud of the University of Vermont and its steps taken to preserve the historic integrity of his former home at 460 South Prospect Street. He was quoted as saying, “The finest thing about the University is the people who are in it."¹⁰

FOOTNOTES

1. “Deaths”, University of Vermont, May 15, 1959, 4.
2. “Faculty Brevities,” Vermont Alumni Weekly, October 10, 1928, 27.
3. “‘U.S. System of Government Best,’ Declares Professor Carroll”, Vermont Alumni Weekly, May 18, 1927, 474.
4. “Historical Society Publishes Monograph,” Vermont Alumni Weekly, October 11, 1933, 18.
5. “Unicameralism,” Vermont Alumnus, December 1938, 49.
6. “Campus News and Commencement Notes,” Vermont Alumni Weekly, July 1, 1925, 553.
7. City of Burlington, Town Clerk Land Records, Volume 110, Page 329.
8. “1953,” The University of Vermont Alumni Magazine, April 1961, 25; “College of Arts and Liberal Science,” Ariel, 1953, 53.
9. Vermont, Spring 1985, 1; Vermont, Spring 1985, 44.
10. Professor Daniel B. Carroll, “Some Impressions of the University,” Vermont Alumni Weekly, March 21, 1921, 325.

PHOTO CREDITS

Figure 3.1. 460 South Prospect Street, Front view facing west, October 1, 2019, Romano Ghirlanda
Figure 3.2. “Arts and Sciences,” Ariel, 1942, 55.
Figure 3.3. City of Burlington, Town Clerk Land Records, Volume 110, Page 326 (Map)
Figure 3.4. City Of Burlington, Department of Building and Zoning, 460 South Prospect Street
Figure 3.5. 460 South Prospect Street, Lower level, October 1, 2019, Romano Ghirlanda

Redstone Apartments

by Romano Ghirlanda

After the purchase of the Buell Estate in 1921, the University of Vermont slowly began developing the area. Parcels of land were sold to faculty for their residency while other areas were used to build large dormitories to accommodate the increasing number of students entering the University of Vermont.

By 1991, all but a small parcel of land had become modernized with 20th century buildings. The last remaining lot within the former Buell Estate sat untouched. It was 4.527 acres of open land at the outskirts of the Redstone Campus on South Prospect Street, and it was on the path of becoming the Redstone Apartments.

In 1992, the University of Vermont sold the 4.527 acres of land to John Novaar of Novaar-Mackesey Developers for the purpose of constructing 26 townhouse style units containing a total of 195 bedrooms to accommodate 214 students. John Novaar was, and continues to be, a managing partner with Prospect Ventures, LLC who completed the construction project in 1993. ¹

The buildings at Redstone Apartments have the same three color tones throughout, giving it a uniform antique color scheme. The lower color exhibits a dark burgundy tone; the middle has a smoky color; and the top section has a faded peach tone. Together, these colors give the Redstone Apartments a rustic quality that seems to dominate South Prospect Street.

When the deed between the University of Vermont and John Novaar was created, the leasing agreements for tenants for the first year was also made. In 1993, incoming tenants had the following options: $450 for a one bedroom apartment, $750 for a two bedroom apartment, $1040 for a three bedroom apartment, and $1360 for a four bedroom apartment. An additional charge of $100 for share beds. ²

On December 30, 2010, Prospect Ventures, LLC sold the property to Catamount/Redstone Apartments, LLC. The University of Vermont is currently under a lease agreement with Redstone Apartments, LLC, which is set to expire on December 29, 2059.³

One of the unique features of the area is the circular rock formation placed at the green within the Redstone Apartments. Though the reasoning for its creation may not be known, it does serve as a temporary escape from the daily trials and tribulations of life.

FOOTNOTES

1. City of Burlington, Town Clerk Land Records, Volume 472, Page 358; City of Burlington, Town Clerk Land Records, Volume 584, Page 60; City of Burlington, Town Clerk Land Records, Volume 1125, Page 716.
2. City of Burlington, Town Clerk Land Records, Volume 472, Page 358.
3. City of Burlington, Town Clerk Land Records, Volume 1135, Page 235.

PHOTO CREDITS

4.1. Romano Ghirlanda, October 1, 2019
4.2. Romano Ghirlanda, October 1, 2019
4.3. Romano Ghirlanda, October 1, 2019
4.4. Romano Ghirlanda, October 1, 2019