This photograph depicts Mrs. William C. (Dorothy) Bemis and Springfield College President Wilbur E. Locklin getting a tour of Hickory Hall during its construction. Hickory Hall, previously known as Bemis Hall, was the final item funded by Springfield College’s 7.3 million dollar Capital Campaign in 1974.
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Springfield College
Notes:
Bemis Hall 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.
