Newberry Hall

On Feb. 28, 1883, our "Students1 Christian association" was incorporated under our state laws. The artides of incorporation provided for the election of a board of trustees consisting of nine members of the faculty, which should have the management oí the affairs of the association. The board was elected Mar. 1, 1883, and its first meeting was held Mar. 3, of the same year, at which time a permanent orgsnization was effected by electing Prof. M. L. D'Ooge, chairman ; Prof. V. M. Spalding, eecretary ; and Dr. W. J. Herdman, treasurer. On Mar. 13, the board decided to purchase the lot now owned by the association, for the congideration of $2,500, and also decided to build of stone when they did build. A subscription paper was then circulated among the faculty and citizens and the amount needeil to pay for the lot was soon pledged. Without delay, a movenient was put on foot to raise money for the erection and furnishing of a building whicb, when completed, ehould cost $15,000. The steady growth of the association, however. soon made it evident that the plans which had been adopted were entirely inadequate to the needt of the organization. In the meanlimo, subscriptions carne in but slowly until in July, 1887, Mrs. John S. Newberry, of Detroit, very generously gave $15,000 for the erection of "Newberry Hall." It may be remarked here that the Hon. John S. Newberry, in whose memory this building is to be erected, was a gradúate of the University and held the honorable po8ition of orator of the class of '45. The present plan, a cut of which is ,' shown above, was designed by Spier & Rohn, architect?, of Detroit, and aocepted by the building committee about Mar. 18. The building, as plaDned, when finished and furnished, will have cost at least $30,000. It is to be built of stone, two stories high above the basement, and C2x 91 ft. on the outside. The cut stone used is to be "Ohio blue," and "Forest City" (brown) stone. The basement will contain the heating apparatus and will be used for such other purposes as may be desired. The first story is to be divided into six rooms, a reception room, reading-room, ladies' parlor, and three pray er meeting rooms, so arranged by means of folding doors that they may be thrown into one large room for use of social gatherings. The main room of the second story which is to be used for general meetings is to have seating capacity of about 550. It is hoped that they may be able so to arrange and furnish this room as to make it one of the most pleasant and comfortable in the city. In front of this there are to be three rooms for the use of students who may have charge of the building. There is to be a commodious committee room in the tower. The excavation for the basement is already made, and the tootings for the foundations are laid. The contract for the stone work ha9 been awarded to Walker Broa., of Ann Arbor, who have hac a wide experience in building with stone, and whose work upon the Baptist and TTnitarian churches is a suflScient guarantee that the work will be done in a most satÍ8factory manner. The corner stone will be laid on May 26, 1888, with appropriate exercises. The mason work is to be completed by Oot. 1, and they hope to be able to have the building ready for dedication by Mar. 15, 1889. ' Arrangements are now being made by which there is a fair prospect of the association receiving, at some time during the summer, an endowment of $25,000 for running expenses and the employment of a secretary who shall devote his en tire time to the work of the association. The S. C. A. has every reason to congratúlate itself upon the prospect of so soon being pleasantly located in a beautit'ul ami commodiom building and being well equipped for any work which opportunity offers for it to perform.