Smith Alumnae Gymnasium facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Smith Alumnae Gymnasium
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Smith College Gymnasium built 1890/1891
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Northampton, Massachusetts |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1890 |
| Architect | William C. Brocklesby |
| Architectural style | Gothic |
| NRHP reference No. | 76000259 |
| Added to NRHP | April 30, 1976 |
The Smith Alumnae Gymnasium is an old building with a lot of history. It is located at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. This building was once a place where students played sports. It was built in 1890 and looked great next to other buildings on campus.
Today, the building is used to store important college records. In 1982, a bridge was built to connect it to the nearby Neilson Library. This gymnasium is famous for a special reason: the very first official women's basketball game was played here in 1892! It was also one of the first sports buildings in America made just for women. Because of its importance, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. This means it is a special place that should be protected.
About the Building and Its History
The old Smith Alumnae Gymnasium is in the middle of the Smith College campus. It is just south of the Neilson Library. The building faces a grassy area called Burton Lawn. Other buildings designed by Peabody and Stearns are also found there.
The gymnasium is made of red brick with brownstone details. It has a style called Late Gothic, which matches the buildings around it. The main roof is steep and sloped, with a small square tower in the middle. Many parts of the roof stick out, and there are smaller windows on the roof. Most windows are rectangular, but some are round. These round windows let light into the stairwells.
Building Design and Firsts
The gymnasium was built in 1890. It was designed by William C. Brocklesby, an architect from Hartford, Connecticut. This new building replaced an older wooden gym from 1879. Brocklesby designed nine buildings on the Smith campus.
This gymnasium is very important in sports history. Senda Berenson worked at the college as the director of physical education. She changed the new game of basketball so women could play it. The first official women's basketball game ever was played right here!
Changes Over Time
In the 1970s, there were plans to tear down the building. This was part of a project to make the Neilson Library bigger. But many people at the college protested this idea. Instead, they decided to move the building about 200 feet (61 meters) to make room.
In 1982, the building was updated and fixed up. It was also connected to the library with a bridge. This way, the historic gymnasium could be saved and used for new purposes.
Gallery
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Smith Alumnae Gymnasium (2012)
