Norwich
University moved to Northfield from Norwich, Vermont in 1866 when
the South Barracks at the older location burnt down. Jackman Hall
was the first building to be constructed at the new site. The building
was erected in 1868, and named Jackman Hall in 1907 to honor General
Alonzo Jackman, a graduate of 1836 and a faculty member. It served
as housing for cadets.
In 1952, the main (south) entrance was remodeled with the addition of a brick portico at a cost of $33,000. The building was repainted and modern plumbing and fixtures were added in 1954. However, it soon became apparent that the antiquated barracks were costing too much to maintain. Hence, it was decided to demolish the building to make room for a new one.
Since
newer barracks such as Gerard Hall were sufficient to house the
student body, it was decided that the new Jackman Hall should be
built as an administration building, and this is the function it
serves today. The Army and Air Force ROTC departments are housed
in Jackman, as well.
Construction, which began in 1964, was financed by the Higher Education Facilities Act of 1963 that permitted colleges to borrow federal money for building projects not related to faculty or student housing. A bronze plaque is situated in the main entrance of the new building that commemorates the building's long history.
Residential Building
Construction
on this dormitory stared in the Fall of 1962 and was completed in
a year. Gerard Hall is the newest residential building on the Upper
Parade Ground. It houses 180 students and is of the same size and
construction as Goodyear Hall, which was built earlier in 1955.
The cost of construction was $601,000.
The building is named after Jacques A. Gerard, a Russian-born American industrialist and philanthropist who set up the Gerard Foundation in 1951 as a charitable organization to assist educational institutes and needy students financially. He became a member of the Norwich University Board of Trustees in June, 1959. Jacques Gerard's many acts of leadership in the corporate world include assisting in the set up of the Cone Automatic Machine Company in England in 1953 and serving as Vice President, Director, and a member of the Executive Committee of Amertool Services, Inc.
Residential Building
Ransom
Hall, a residential building housing approximately 137 students,
venerates the name of Colonel Truman B. Ransom. He was the second
president of Norwich University (1844-47). Colonel Ransom left Norwich
to take part in the Mexican War and was killed on the assault on
Chapultepec.
For the construction of Ransom Hall, the University obtained a loan from the U.S. government under the Housing & Home Finance Agency. It was the first college to receive one under this agency. Built in 1952, Ransom Hall was the first of many buildings completed during General Ernest N. Harmon's presidential tenure. The construction of this building was significant because it allowed the enrollment in the Corps of Cadets to increase to 700.
Back to Map | More Northfield Campus Photos
Source: Guinn, Robert Darius, The History of Norwich University, 1912-1965.