WHEN WE WERE NORMAL
A Historical Augmented Reality Walking Tour
From Palmer to Hammond: The Building at the Center of Campus
LOCATION: Forthcoming
Before Hammond Hall, there was Palmer, a dormitory for men and women. It was established in 1913 but was demolished in 1973 and 1974 to be replaced with a building that stood as half campus center and half library. The library was known as the Saxifrage, while the campus center was referred to as the Student Union Building.
Between 1995 and 2002, the library was dedicated to Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio. In 2011, the building went through a period of reconstruction into what it is today, with the library located on the second floor from ground level. Then president, Robert Antonucci, took part in an interview about his experience with the campus’s history and what life was like before Hammond Hall existed in its current state.
Hammond is an incredibly special building in the campus’s history. It is one of the largest buildings on site, if not the largest, when height is not included, and it is front and center when you arrive at the campus, save for the recreation center, which is down the road. It began as nothing but a coed dorm and has risen, through generation after generation and under the hands of many presidents, into the centerpiece of Fitchburg State University.
Inside Hammond Today
The Hammond Building is one of the busiest buildings at Fitchburg State University, whether students are going to the game room or an event hosted there or the library held there as well. The building with five floors, houses the Library, Offices, Art Gallery, Bookstore, Lecture Hall, Game room, meeting rooms, the Bistro, and many more that students at Fitchburg State enjoy. As the Campus Center, Hammond is used for many events like the Diwali celebration. Diwali is a festival of lights and one of the major festivals celebrated by Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs. Another event that I have attended in the Hammond building was when BSU (Black Student Union) hosted a silent headphone party in one of the many rooms in Hammond. Hammond also hosts Therapy dogs, who come around during midterm and finals week as a way for students to decrease stress while petting and playing with dogs. One of the best places in the Hammond building would have to be the counseling and career services office, located on the third floor. It’s really important for students to have somewhere to go and talk to when they feel down or stressed. The school having counseling services shows how much they care for students.
The Hammond building also has a mini gallery inside on the second floor. Students showcase their artwork there. Hammond was also the highlight building for athletes because when the school year starts, coaches and athletic directors host a meeting for athletes to get to know each other and their coaches, while also signing some papers.
A Place for Everyone
A campus center is meant to be a place for all students to gather under a single roof, whether for studying, seeking aid, or something else entirely. Hammond Hall has become that beacon. It houses the library, a place to stop and eat in the North Street Bistro, the research archives, the bookstore, the tutoring center, and so much more if you know where to look.
Lastly, the Hammond building has many things and still looks as beautiful and huge as it did many years ago. The Hammond building includes things that can help students whether it’s dog therapy, food, a gallery, a game room, or just events for students to enjoy on campus.