Lycoming College - Lycoming College Campus - Past and Present

Lycoming College President D. Frederick Wertz addresses the crowd at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Academic Center. Rich Hall, a women's dormitory names 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 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.

A student is seen entering East Hall through one of the arched entryways. Another student stands at the top of the stairs on the other side of the arch and looks out across the parking area. A view of the mountains can be seen in the distance.

A view of Hilltop Gymnasium and the Barn, looking northeast.

View from above of Long Administration Building, possibly photographed from a window in Rich Hall, or the Fine Arts Center.

A winter scene of Long Hall, viewed from between the Clarke Building and Chapel, left sidevof the photo, and Memorial Hall, to the right. A print of this photograph is in the 1965 yearbook.

Scaffolding covers part of the front of John W. Long Library (now Long Hall administration building), as work continues on its brick exterior. 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.

The Lycoming College Choir, standing on the concrete stairway in front of the columned entryway of the John W. Long Library, performs during the dedication ceremony. The library was dedicated Saturday, October 20, 1951. Parts of an article from the November, 1951 Lycoming Bulletin follow: 'Shortly before 11:00 o'clock the academic procession consisting of representatives of student and alumni associations, secondary schools, colleges and universities, educational and learned associations, trustees of the college, faculty, senior students, Bishop of the Methodist Church, the president of the college and speakers, marched from the gymnasium to the scene of the dedication in front of the new library while members of the a cappella choir moved from the interior of the library to form a colorful background of gold and blue at the top landing prior to opening the service by singing 'O Magnify the Lord With Me,' led by Mr. Walter G. McIver … Robert F. Rich, president of the Board of Directors, presided over the program and introduced the principal speaker, Dr. Fred G. Holloway, president of Drew University … [a sentence from Dr. Holloway's address]: 'The very fact that you are naming this library in honor of the president of this college, John W. Long, I should like to say that you are by that very fact also perpetuating a great personality who, in a sense, becomes enshrined in this building and his personality will be felt all through the years because of what he is and what he has been and this is a fitting tribute in recognition of that fact.'

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.'

Front view of the Old Fine Arts Building. 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.'

View of the back of Rich Hall from The Quad. The east side of Snowden Memorial Library is behind the building on the left side of the photo. The north end of the front of Crever Hall is behind the building at the right side of the photo. Rich Hall was built as a women's dormitory in 1948 in response to the campus population increase following World War II. It was named in honor of the Rich family, who were benefactors of the college. The building was dedicated Homecoming Weekend, October 30, 1948. On back of photo: '8; Kurt Weirich.' Kurt Weirich was a senior psychology major at Lycoming in 1990.