Lycoming College - Lycoming College Campus - Past and Present

Old and new come together in this picture showing the newly built Academic Center with Old Main just behind it to the right. The Academic Center was completed in the spring of 1968 and Old Main was torn down in November and December of 1968.

Fred A. Pennington takes his turn in the groundbreaking ceremony for the Academic Center. Pennington Lounge in the Academic Center bears his name, honoring him and his wife, Betty. A native of Millville, Pa., Mr. Pennington was a 1932 graduate of the college, and a member of the College's Board of Trustees for thirty-nine years. He served as chairman from 1964-76. Many of the College's buildings were constructed during this time, and the Academic Center was planned and built.

Fred Pennington, Congressman Robert Rich, and President D. Frederick Wertz participate in the groundbreaking ceremony for the Academic Center. Rich Hall, a women's dormitory, is in the background. The Academic Center was part of the Lycoming College Project. Four buildings were planned for the land acquired from the Williamsport Redevelopment Authority. The description description that follows is based on a Williamsport Sun-Gazette article dated March 14, 1965. The four buildings in the project would be connected and face Ross Street, with entrances on all sides. The facility would have a theater, laboratories, faculty offices, and library. Wagner and Hartman Associates, the architects, designed all units to be constructed of glass and architectural concrete, which was different from the colonial style buildings on the rest of the campus. Parking lots were planned for the area of Little League Boulevard and Mulberry Street.

Congressman Robert F. Rich takes his turn at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Academic Center, as Assistant to the President, R. Andrew Lady, observes. Rich Hall, a women's dormitory named in honor of the Rich family, is in the background. The Academic Center was part of the Lycoming College Project. Four buildings were planned for the land acquired from the Williamsport Redevelopment Authority. The description that follows is based on a Williamsport Sun-Gazette article dated March 14, 1965. The four buildings in the project would be connected and face Ross Street, with entrances on all sides. The facility would have a theater, laboratories, faculty offices, and library. Wagner and Hartman Associates, the architects, designed all units to be constructed of glass and architectural concrete, which was different from the colonial style buildings on the rest of the campus. Parking lots were planned for the area of Little League Boulevard and Mulberry Street.

Aerial view of the campus ca.1948. The architect's design for three new buildings is sketched in the photo. Old Main, the building with two cupolas, faces south. Connected to it by the pedestrian bridge is Bradley Hall. Memorial Hall is north of Bradley Hall. The building beside Bradley Hall is Clarke Building and Chapel. The other building behind Old Main is Hilltop Gymnasium. Behind the gymnasium, the building with columns, is Rich Hall, a women's residence hall. North of Rich Hall, on the corner of the street is the President's House. The white building next to this is the Old Fine Arts Building. The rectangular grassy area with the bleachers on the east side is the Quad. The bleachers are in front of two proposed buildings that are sketched onto the photograph. The building with the columns is Wesley Hall, a men's residence hall. The building sketched next to it is Long Library. Another building is sketched across the open area Behind Memorial Hall and east of Bradley Hall. The nature of that building is being investigated.

Autumnal Aerial View of Lycoming College Campus looking south from the baseball field and tennis courts. The large grassy area toward the left center of the photo is The Quad.

Architect's scale model of the Lycoming College Campus in 1968, most likely before the construction of the Academic Center. The top of this photograph is the south. At the top right of the layout is the Academic Center, which faces the parking lot on the south. To the left, across the street, is Hilltop Gymnasium. Across from the gym is Old Main. Left of Old Main is Bradley Hall. To its southeast is the Old Science Building. To the left of the gym is the Clarke Building and Chapel. Between Bradley Hall and the Chapel is Memorial Hall. Behind Memorial Hall is a dormitory, Skeath Hall. Another dormitory, Asbury Hall, is across from Skeath at the left of the photo. In front of Crever Hall is Long Hall, the buiding with the white clock tower. Long Hall faces the Quad, the large, open area. Next to it is Wesley Hall, a dormitory. On the corner next to Wertz is East Hall dormitory. West of East Hall on the corner are the Fine Arts Building and the President's house. Across from the President's House is a dormitory, Williams Hall. Next to Williams Hall is another dormitory, Crever Hall. Across the street from Williams Hall and Crever Hall is Wertz Student Center. Next to Wertz, the building with the white cupola, is Rich Hall, another dormitory.

Students stand chatting in front of the Clarke Chapel (not visible in this photo). The domed building at the left in the background is Flock Brewery. In front of it is Memorial Hall. Beside Memorial Hall is Bradley Hall, and a corner of Old Main is visible to the right. The caption reads: ""Does anybody know what's in chapel?""

Photo of the construction of John W. Long Library (now Long Hall, an administration building). The John W. Long Library was built in 1950-51, and named in honor of John W. Long, president of Williamsport Dickinson Seminary, which later became Lycoming College, from 1921-1955. The clock face was installed in the tower in 1959. The building was home to the library until 1968, when the Academic Center was constructed. It now is the residence of administrative offices.

Lycoming College's logo is displayed on a placard on the lawn of East Hall Fraternity Residence.

A view of the Old Fine Arts Building looking west from the stairs ascending from the Quad. The Fine Arts Center, consisting of eighteen rooms, was opened to the public in 1940. A plaque inside the portico in the front of the building read: 'This Fine Arts Building and President's residence were made possible by the gifts of Mr. and Mrs. William Fleming Rich and Family.' On back: 'Return Naomi Woolever, Williamsport Sun-Gazette.'

The Old Fine Arts Building was originally constructed in the 1870's as a family dwelling. It was purchased in 1931, along with nineteen other properties located on the same city block, by Michael Bond Rich of Woolrich Mills, the former President of the Board of Directors of Williamsport Dickinson Junior College. The property was donated to the college for future expansion. The Fine Arts Center, consisting of eighteen rooms, was opened to the public in 1940. The building was demolished in June 1986 due to unsafe conditions caused by a shift in its foundation. The former Hilltop Gymnasium was renovated for use as the Fine Arts Building.