OT: Rutgers Plans to Demolish Ford Hall

[Source]

If you want to save it, get it put on the National Register of Historic Places.
Here's the wikipedia entry on the architect, Bertram Goodhue. He designed a lot of significant buildings. Destroying his work is pretty shameful. So much of historic New Brunswick has been torn down and destroyed already.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bertram_Goodhue

March 4, 1914 Daily Home News
"J.H. Ford, Friend of Rutgers, Dies A Victim of Income Tax Worry"

Part I:

http://newbrunswick.archivalweb.com...=q=%22Ford+Dormitory%22&p=2&r=0&s=a&o=0&ps=15

Part II:

http://newbrunswick.archivalweb.com...=q=%22Ford+Dormitory%22&p=2&r=0&s=a&o=0&ps=15

 

[Sir ScarletKnight]

March 4, 1914 Daily Home News
"J.H. Ford, Friend of Rutgers, Dies A Victim of Income Tax Worry"

Part I:

http://newbrunswick.archivalweb.com/imageViewer.php?i=710021&q="Ford Dormitory"&s=q=%22Ford+Dormitory%22&p=2&r=0&s=a&o=0&ps=15

Part II:

http://newbrunswick.archivalweb.com/imageViewer.php?r=714&in=798&d=1&s=q=%22Ford+Dormitory%22&p=2&r=0&s=a&o=0&ps=15

That may be one of the most interesting obituaries I've ever read.

 

[Source]

That may be one of the most interesting obituaries I've ever read.

I thought so too. His brother donated $30,000 the following year to fund a new Y building in New Brunswick.

 

[R1766U]

Ever wonder why Mine Street is named "Mine Street"?

Copper mine.

This is one of the coolest things Iv'e seen in awhile. Never knew or heard of this. Anyone else have any insight into this mine? Seems really neat.

 

[R1766U]

Here is angood article about the mine http://newbrunswicktoday.com/article/flooding-brought-end-mining-operation-old-new-brunswick

 

[RUScrew85]

Ford Hall is not a particular architectural gem. For me, its history is tied up with the mine shafts below it. I'd like to see them demolish it in such a away as to be able to instigate those mine shafts that might remain.

Wait! Whut? There's mine shafts under Ford Hall? 4 years there and no one told me?

 

[RUScrew85]

Ever wonder why Mine Street is named "Mine Street"?

Copper mine.

No shit? How the hell did my drunk college ass not know this and not explore it?

 

[Source]

No shit? How the hell did my drunk college ass not know this and not explore it?

The tunnels were mined for low grade copper in the soil back in the 1750s. When the Revolutionary War broke out, they were not shipping this copper to England anymore and water also started going into the tunnels. So they were abandoned a half century before the first Rutgers building arrived.

The tunnels were broken in to when Van Dyke Hall, the Quad, River Dorms, etc. were put up. Never venture into one of these places. After 250 years, they are death traps ready to collapse.

 

[Sir ScarletKnight]

The tunnels were mined for low grade copper in the soil back in the 1750s. When the Revolutionary War broke out, they were not shipping this copper to England anymore and water also started going into the tunnels. So they were abandoned a half century before the first Rutgers building arrived.

The tunnels were broken in to when Van Dyke Hall, the Quad, River Dorms, etc. were put up. Never venture into one of these places. After 250 years, they are death traps ready to collapse.

I mean, that's what a lot of people say about Rutgers. [roll]

 

[RUnTeX]

Rutgers actually has the largest on-campus res-life program in the country, just beating out Ohio State.

I seem to remember it was always Michigan State at #1 and then Rutgers-NB #2 in terms of total number of on-campus beds in the country. I guess OSU must have built some more residence halls recently but Rutgers built those apartments on Livingston and the honors college dorm yet I didn't realize RU took over the top spot.

 

[Sir ScarletKnight]

I seem to remember it was always Michigan State at #1 and then Rutgers-NB #2 in terms of total number of on-campus beds in the country. I guess OSU must have built some more residence halls recently but Rutgers built those apartments on Livingston and the honors college dorm yet I didn't realize RU took over the top spot.

I think the Yard is what put us over the top actually, we were behind OSU until just before that was built.

 

[RUnTeX]

I think the Yard is what put us over the top actually, we were behind OSU until just before that was built.

Gotcha, thanks for the info.

Back to alumni center ideas, any reason to think that a location anywhere on the CA campus would gain administrative momentum with the Rutgers Club facility now over on Livingston perhaps meant to serve a similar function. Would be great to champion a facility on CA as part of either the master plan quad or as part of Ford reno/demo, but almost expect Rutgers to squander the opportunity thinking they've already addressed the need on the other side of the river.

 

[BoroKnight]

I'm just glad we turned this thread away from demolishing the Barn. Seriously? The plans for a new quad with the Barn at the end of it look awesome. I won't live to see it, of course, but I can dream.

If you want facilities the Barn doesn't have, fine. Use one of the planned buildings for the new quad for that. But what we really need is to build parking at the fringe of campus and make the lot behind the barn a grass field again. It would be nice to look out and imagine 1869.

 

[Sir ScarletKnight]

Gotcha, thanks for the info.

Back to alumni center ideas, any reason to think that a location anywhere on the CA campus would gain administrative momentum with the Rutgers Club facility now over on Livingston perhaps meant to serve a similar function. Would be great to champion a facility on CA as part of either the master plan quad or as part of Ford reno/demo, but almost expect Rutgers to squander the opportunity thinking they've already addressed the need on the other side of the river.

The Rutgers Club is run largely by Rutgers dining/student affairs. It's not, to my knowledge, at all affiliated with the RUAA. Even with their new remodeling, they're ONLY for dining, and only for a relatively limited number of guests. It's simply not the same kind of facility. (somewhat ironic considering how it was established) It IS the kind of facility that would go nicely in an alumni center. Personally, I can see them having more than one location, and having a Rutgers club on College Ave in the alumni center, and on Livi should be feasible. Livi should do a rip-roaring business for basketball games next year if they play their cards right, but College Ave is still the center of campus.

Same with the new alumni house opening in Van Nest. That's mostly administrative and still won't provide the kind of facilities that would be addressed by an alumni center.

Ironically, the original Rutgers Club was created in February 27, 1956 when a representative group of alumni and faculty met at the Union Club in New Brunswick “to further the planning of an Alumni-Faculty Center.” The esteemed group felt that the acquisition and development of such a facility was “the most urgent capital need in the entire university community.” Immediately, the group began preparing the Certificate of Incorporation and in so doing stated that the purposes of the Alumni-Faculty Center were to “provide physical facilities for the alumni and faculty of Rutgers University for professional, social, cultural, and business meetings, to provide dining and other facilities which will promote and perpetuate amity and understanding among the members of the Rutgers family and the best interests of the University.”

It's clearly lost that thread entirely...they have a mother's day brunch planned as their special event on the day of commencement.

http://slwordpress.rutgers.edu/rutg...ites/53/2018/01/Rutgers-Club-Newsletter-1.pdf

I'm just glad we turned this thread away from demolishing the Barn. Seriously? The plans for a new quad with the Barn at the end of it look awesome. I won't live to see it, of course, but I can dream.

If you want facilities the Barn doesn't have, fine. Use one of the planned buildings for the new quad for that. But what we really need is to build parking at the fringe of campus and make the lot behind the barn a grass field again. It would be nice to look out and imagine 1869.

I'm all in for making that parking green again, but that is a significant amount of parking we can't lose atm. I'd be in favor of demolishing the annex and rebuilding it as a brand new, state of the art facility connected to the CAG's historic main space and court.

 

[Source]

I always wondered why Bishop House is on the list of Registered Historic Places yet the College Avenue Gym and surrounding ground is not. The spot is where the first intercollegiate football game was played in America and the Gym is where New Jersey's current Constitution was debated and hammered out in 1947. Seems those two things should be enough to qualify it as an Historic place.

 

[kaiaamt]

Lived in Ford my junior year at Rutgers (1978-79) and have lots of good memories. Sharing a bathroom with just one roommate was a pleasure after two years at Frelinghysen. From what I can recall, it was designated for upperclassmen. And getting to classes was a breeze, especially lectures at Scott Hall. Would be nice if it could be repurposed.

 

[ru66]

been in the RU housing lottery lately ? and having many units means nothing especially when many suck and scare parents and applicants away--and just because there has been a mini spike recently in new construction doesn't mean there is not a HUGE need for so much more

 

[rutgersal]

At Maryland, like Penn State and many basically all other Universities where there are nice houses, the University built them or at least funded them leasing them back to the Fraternities. This way the University forces the fraternities to keep them nice.

At dear old Rutgers, the Fraternities are owned by the local chapter and Rutgers historically never provided any financial support - even in terms of loans. Because of this relationship, Rutgers University has little to no power over aesthetics and neither does the national chapter.

When I was in school, the plan to put fraternities on Busch was floated. We had a mortgage on the house that was literally $1,000 per year. Rutgers wanted us to sell the house to them, at a below market rate, and commit to relocate to a new house on Busch at a much higher total cost. There was so little thought put into the proposal it was DOA.

Great points.

 

[Sir ScarletKnight]

been in the RU housing lottery lately ? and having many units means nothing especially when many suck and scare parents and applicants away--and just because there has been a mini spike recently in new construction doesn't mean there is not a HUGE need for so much more

Not personally (special circumstances, although I've lived on campus all four years) but plenty of my friends have. And I live in the Lynton Towers, so I'm highly aware. But this dorm has been closed for years now, they still haven't decided what to replace it with. Plenty of other housing that can be renovated or replaced.

 

[rutgersal]

Just going to say, as a tour guide, the Barn is not the problem in terms of keeping NJs best students home. And yes, it could use significant upgrades, but it's one of the nicest parts of that part of campus architecture wise. Could use a new and state of the art annex.

As for athletes, they're irrelevant regarding the Barn because we're in the middle of building them a brand new space. Unless you're referring to the women's volleyball team which, well...yeah. they're going nowhere fast.

The problem is that the visitors center is in the boonies for everything except football. No connection for alumni or students. Ditto with the golf course and most of Busch. As for parking, there's a lot right behind Murray that has plenty of space on Weekends and is still overdue for a deck.

15% of students are in Greek life, and it's not exactly in a position of strength right now. The idea of sinking money into the system is laughable.

No one is going to tell the tour guide that the barn sucks. They're going to speak with their admission acceptances elsewhere. As the weakest facility which caters to student life, it needs to be substantially improved. Glad to hear its being renovated, but interested in hearing what the scope will be.

The most popular time that alumni visit Rutgers is for football games, and don't think people will be inclined to make a separate stop on college ave. Penn State has a nice alumni center, which I had a chance to visit.

15% of Rutgers New Brunswick student population is a significant amount of students. As with most things it comes down to money, and there are higher priorities for now.

 

[scarletschuyler]

Hell, I was a preceptor (do they still use that term?) in Ford in 1970. Ahh, the sweet smell of canabis wafting through the floors.

 

[Sir ScarletKnight]

No one is going to tell the tour guide that the barn sucks. They're going to speak with their admission acceptances elsewhere. As the weakest facility which caters to student life, it needs to be substantially improved. Glad to hear its being renovated, but interested in hearing what the scope will be.

The most popular time that alumni visit Rutgers is for football games, and don't think people will be inclined to make a separate stop on college ave. Penn State has a nice alumni center, which I had a chance to visit.

15% of Rutgers New Brunswick student population is a significant amount of students. As with most things it comes down to money, and there are higher priorities for now.

Trust me, people are happy to tell us when they feel something sucks. That said, we don't show people that Barn on our tour. People care more about the academic spaces, class sizes, dorms, academic advising, etc. And it's far from the weakest facility catering to student life. That'd probably be Brower or the buses if you want to call them a facility. I've never heard a complaint about the College Ave Gym while a student. Complains about Brower are legion.

The point is to bring alumni back at times when there isn't a football game.We already have a visitor center if we want to do something with football games. Not every alumnus likes sports.

Hell, I was a preceptor (do they still use that term?) in Ford in 1970. Ahh, the sweet smell of canabis wafting through the floors.

Nope, we call them RAs now. (Resident Assistant)

 

[Block R]

Hell, I was a preceptor (do they still use that term?) in Ford in 1970. Ahh, the sweet smell of canabis wafting through the floors.

Preceptor. Now that's a name I've not heard in a long time. A long time.

 

[Sir ScarletKnight]

Preceptor. Now that's a name I've not heard in a long time. A long time.

Fun fact, Richard McCormick (Sr.) was a preceptor in Winants Hall alongside Walter Stemmons, who ended up writing the first history of Uconn back when it was still Connecticut Agricultural College.

 

[RU-05]

it doesnt look all that bad..why the hate

yes Scott Hall should go but I dont see it the hate with Ford...

It looks pretty dang nice imo. Is it an "architectural gem"? Perhaps not, but that is still much better then anything I'd expect them to build in it's place.

Why was it not being used anyway? Old plumbing/electric?

 

[Sir ScarletKnight]

It looks pretty dang nice imo. Is it an "architectural gem"? Perhaps not, but that is still much better then anything I'd expect them to build in it's place.

Why was it not being used anyway? Old plumbing/electric?

That and it's not up to code. (Old stairs, no elevator, etc.) Supposedly there are some asbestos issues as well. (Which Demarest and some other RU dorms still have as well, it's just covered up in the walls.) As in literally, not figuratively covered up. The admins tell the students.

 

[RUScrew85]

The tunnels were mined for low grade copper in the soil back in the 1750s. When the Revolutionary War broke out, they were not shipping this copper to England anymore and water also started going into the tunnels. So they were abandoned a half century before the first Rutgers building arrived.

The tunnels were broken in to when Van Dyke Hall, the Quad, River Dorms, etc. were put up. Never venture into one of these places. After 250 years, they are death traps ready to collapse.

Yeah but I was there like 100 years ago! ; )

 

[Source]

Yeah but I was there like 100 years ago! ; )

The mines are 30-100 feet below the surface. A construction crew once broke into a tunnel that was held up by wooden beams that were crumbling and centuries old. They found some old picks and other paraphenalia. But they are not safe.

 

[RUnTeX]

Nope, we call them RAs now. (Resident Assistant)

Back in the day what they had was a preceptor for each floor of a dorm and then an RA for the whole building. So there were two roles involved but they were not the same responsibility level.

 

[MozRU]

Nothing last forever. Let it go

 

[RU62]

And don't forget the empty houses on the Douglass/Cook campus just sitting there. Apparently there are some issues relating to sprinklers andd fire codes and $$ to fix. But for what they are charging for housing these could be fixed.

 

[Sir ScarletKnight]

Back in the day what they had was a preceptor for each floor of a dorm and then an RA for the whole building. So there were two roles involved but they were not the same responsibility level.

Ah, now the RA runs the floors, and a hall director runs the building.

And don't forget the empty houses on the Douglass/Cook campus just sitting there. Apparently there are some issues relating to sprinklers andd fire codes and $$ to fix. But for what they are charging for housing these could be fixed.

As someone who lives in the Lynton Towers, where at least one elevator breaks down at least once a week, trust me, I get it. But that's part of why I don't advocate fixing up Ford Hall as a dorm. It's simply not a dorm space anymore. But it could have significant life outside of that.

 

[RUScrew85]

The mines are 30-100 feet below the surface. A construction crew once broke into a tunnel that was held up by wooden beams that were crumbling and centuries old. They found some old picks and other paraphenalia. But they are not safe.

I'll keep drinking until I'm convinced they are safe. @herdof3 you're with me right? Just like old times!

 

[Source]

I'll keep drinking until I'm convinced they are safe. @herdof3 you're with me right? Just like old times!

Look at it this way. You'll save a bundle on your burial costs at your funeral.

 

[RUScrew85]

Look at it this way. You'll save a bundle on your burial costs at your funeral.

Another good reason.

AND - I'm buried on campus. How many Alums can say that? Huh? [thumb2]

 

[Source]

Another good reason.

AND - I'm buried on campus. How many Alums can say that? Huh? [thumb2]

Well, there ya go. Don't forget to sign up for Campus Haunting 101. See if you can get into Dr. Caspar's class.

 

[RU1993]

At Maryland every Greek house is also exactly the same. The same exact model. Our Greek houses are unique and historic. Many are very old. Sure they're not as big and elaborate as other universities but so what. To be fair though some of those houses are dumps.

The Skull house, theta chi, delta chi should be torn down tbh.

Not the delta chi house

 

[rubaseball78]

Ford Hall, Scott Hall, and the Barn all need to be demolished.

Demolishing Ford and Scott is a vision I can get behind. No way for the Barn.

 

[Hondo77]

If NB could get rid of the projects, and beautify that part of the 18/waterfront, then we should do our part and demolish those 3 disasters (even though, IIRC, my dad lived in one of them when they opened..Campbell I believe)!!!

I lived in Campbell my freshman year. The rooms were OK. I moved to Demarest for sophmore year. That dorm was much nicer.

 

[Hondo77]

Hell, I was a preceptor (do they still use that term?) in Ford in 1970. Ahh, the sweet smell of canabis wafting through the floors.

You could walk in and get a contact high.