WHEN WE WERE NORMAL
A Historical Augmented Reality Walking Tour
The Man Behind Hammond Hall
LOCATION: Forthcoming
The Hammond Building has become the hub of the Fitchburg State campus. This centralized location was named after a man who changed the school forever, and was the embodiment of the values we hold today. James J. Hammond was President from 1962-1975, and oversaw the massive expansion that added a plethora of programs, and buildings that reshaped the school in the decades that followed. The school we see today is a direct result of the work President Hammond put in, and it is only right that the main building on campus be named after him.
Mr. Industrial Arts
Prior to his presidency, president Hammond was a well-known professor in Industrial Arts. He had been teaching at the school for 20 years and became known by faculty and students as “Mr. Industrial Arts.” By 1963, he had served twice as acting president of the school. When the time came to decide who would be the next president after Ralph Weston, James Hammond seemed to be the obvious choice. “It would have been the crime of the century, had you not been selected,” said Francis Guindon, the Director of Planning and Development and friend of Hammond. President Hammond would go on to serve as president for twelve years.
James J. Hammond became president of Fitchburg State at a very trying time. In the midst of the Vietnam War, and at a time where his predecessor was forced to withdraw presidential duties because of hospitalization, Hammond was jolted into his presidency, and set a great example for the students and faculty of how to lead during difficult periods. His values of excellence and enrichment during that period shaped the way the world sees Fitchburg State, and everything it has to offer. President Hammond’s ability to rally the school, and expand beyond anyone’s imagination during troubling times was enough to warrant respect, and trust in a great man.
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What He Built
During his time as president, the campus underwent many changes. Such as the Conlon Building, designed for students studying industrial arts and fine arts. Other changes include the construction of Russell Towers, the expansion of the dining hall, acquiring land off Pearl Hill Road for the college’s athletic fields, construction of the McKay Arts Academy and creating the positions of Dean of Students and Director of Admissions. All these changes and additions would be for the benefit of the school, as during Hammond’s presidency the number of students enrolled in the school would increase to more than double what it had been and President Hammond would continue to push for important investments in technology and media.
In 1975, James J. Hammond was in charge of the construction of the industrial arts and fine arts building that was later named in memory of Florence Conlon. Although his term of presidency was over, he saw to it that the building was finished. Florence Conlon was a professor of fine arts from 1919 to 1961. Conlon is mostly for the Fine Arts Students such as Communication, Film and video, Game Design, Humanities, and Engineering Technology, and many more.
In 1971, Hammond was in charge of the dormitory that was later named Russell Towers, named after Helen Ross-Russell, a professor in the biology department and later Dean of the college, Director of Administrations, and Registrar.
James J. Hammond was responsible for the implementation of most of the programs we see at Fitchburg State today, including the Environmental Science program, which was founded in September of 1974, Industrial Science program, which was founded in March of 1975, and the Communications program, which was founded in July of 1973. Some of these programs have grown to envelop a great amount of the student body, and President Hammond is to thank for that. The news of his leadership, and expansion of the school was felt throughout the surrounding communities, as enrollment doubled during his time as president, and has increased ever since, thanks to his ambition to move the school forward.
Why the Name Fits
With his long history at the school, his long tenure as president and the outstanding improvements he spearheaded for the campus and the students, it’s no wonder that the largest building on campus that functions as a central hub for the students would be named after him.
The central building of the modern Fitchburg State campus was not only named after a former President, but also a great man who was trusted to carry the school through its greatest expansion in history, and lead the students and faculty to prosper through rough times.