Alexander Johnston Hall facts for kids
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Rutgers Preparatory School
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Alexander Johnston Hall, 2018
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 Location in Middlesex County, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Location | 101 Somerset Street, New Brunswick, New Jersey |
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| Area | 0.3 acres (0.12 ha) |
| Built | 1830 |
| Architect | Nicholas Wyckoff; Henry Janeway Hardenbergh |
| Architectural style | Second Empire, Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 75001145 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | July 18, 1975 |
Alexander Johnston Hall is a historic building located in New Brunswick, New Jersey. It stands on the corner of Somerset Street and College Avenue. This building is special because it's the second oldest one at Rutgers University. It was built in 1830 to help the Rutgers Preparatory School grow. It also provided space for two student clubs, the Philoclean and Peithessophian societies. The building is also known by its historic name, Rutgers Preparatory School. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 18, 1975. This was because of its important design and its role in education.
Contents
History of Alexander Johnston Hall
Early Days and Design
Local architect and builder Nicholas Wyckoff designed Alexander Johnston Hall. It was built in 1830. For many years, it was home to the Rutgers College Grammar School. This school later became known as the Rutgers Preparatory School.
Building Expansion
In 1870, the people in charge of Rutgers College decided to make the building bigger. They hired a famous architect named Henry Janeway Hardenbergh. He designed a new two-story part for the building. This was the first of three projects Hardenbergh worked on for the college. He also designed Geology Hall in 1872 and Kirkpatrick Chapel.
Rutgers Prep and Renaming
The Rutgers Preparatory School used this building for a very long time, from 1830 until 1963. The school itself is even older than the building! It was started in 1766 along with Rutgers, which was then called "Queen's College." Today, the Rutgers Preparatory School is an independent school. It has its own campus in Somerset, New Jersey.
In 1964, Rutgers University changed the building's name. They renamed it to honor Alexander Johnston. He was a historian and taught classics at the school. Johnston was a Rutgers graduate from 1870. He even taught William H. S. Demarest, who later became president of Rutgers.
