A College-Church Partnership
Two New Student Centers and Expansion of the White Church Promise Enrichment of Religious Life for Dartmouth Students
THE revival of interest in, and commitment to, religious faith and tradition that has swept across America during the past decade has had a profound influence at Dartmouth College and in the Hanover community.
More than a decade ago the Trustees of the College established the William Jewett Tucker Foundation "for the purpose of supporting and furthering the moral and spiritual work and influence of Dartmouth College."
Concurrent with this program has come an increased emphasis by the Hanover churches on the development of programs and facilities designed to strengthen the ties of Dartmouth undergraduates with their own denominational faiths.
This year two new student centers - the Edgerton House (Episcopalian) and Aquinas House (Catholic) - opened their doors for Dartmouth undergraduates and faculty members, and the Church of Christ at Dartmouth College (Congregational) is about to begin construction of a new wing which will greatly enhance the Church's programs among the youth of the community and College.
In addition to these new student facilities, costing nearly one million dollars, Hanover within the past three years has seen the construction of a new Lutheran Church, the Chapel of Our Saviour, on Summer Street. This new church, whose Minister is the Rev. David F. Krampitz, has enabled the parish to reach the students and faculty more effectively, and to carry forward a program of religious study, discussions, and conferences in addition to the regular worship.
Largest of the new facilities is the Catholic student center, St. Clement's Chapel and Aquinas House, built at a cost of $600,000 and formally dedicated on April 29. The Center, located at the corner of Webster Avenue and Occom Ridge, was designed by Stanley Orcutt, Hanover architect, and built by Vincent Turecamo '37 of the firm of B. Turecamo, Humphreys and Harding Inc. of New York. The center replaces the former Choate Road Aquinas House, which will now be used by the College for private housing.
Included in the new center, regarded as a "prototype" for Catholic student centers on other college and university campuses, is St. Clement's Chapel, accommodating the more than 400 Catholic undergraduates at the College; classrooms, recreational rooms, a TV lounge, a library, a small devotional chapel, and McDonald Hall, the central area named for Dean-Emeritus Joseph L. McDonald. Also in the center are living quarters for the Chaplains, guest rooms, kitchens, and housekeeping quarters.
Over $500,000 of the cost was raised in a fund campaign among Dartmouth alumni and friends, led by Sidney J. Flanigan '23, Frank T. Kennedy '25, and the late Walter B. Reilly '11, co-founder and adviser for Aquinas House since 1953. The majority of pledges and gifts have come from Dartmouth alumni. Henry J. McCarthy '31 gave the new chapel, and Vincent C. Turecamo '37 contributed the central area of the center in honor of his mother.
Father William Nolan and Father Thomas Ferrick serve as Chaplains for the center.
Father Ferrick told us that the new Catholic student center was "one of the best in the nation, equal or superior to those at the major state and private universities." He reports great use of all center facilities by Dartmouth undergraduates, many of them non-Catholic. "The students like to come here to study," Father Ferrick said. "It's quiet here, and there's usually someone to chat with if they want. We believe the center is making a major contribution to college life and work for many students."
EDGERTON HOUSE, the student center associated with St. Thomas Episcopal Church and given by Mr. and Mrs. Halsey C. Edgerton 'O6 of Hanover, serves a very similar function according to Father Edward H. MacBurney '49, who serves as Assistant Chaplain under The Reverend Leslie W. Hodder.
"Edgerton House is important because it belongs to the students," Father MacBurney said. "It's not just a parish house. Students come here for classes, study, recreation, and many for counseling. I live in the center and thus am available night and day to meet with them in groups or individually."
We asked Father MacBurney about the possible fragmentation of Dartmouth students along denominational lines which might be caused by such facilities.
"I think we're contributing to the general Christian community in Hanover," Father MacBurney responded. "Many students who use Edgerton House are non-Episcopalian yet they enjoy the facilities and often participate in our student-faculty discussion groups. We've had meetings of the Cosmopolitan Club, the Jewish Life Council, and other groups here, and we hope to have many more in the future."
Edgerton House is located on School Street, just two blocks from downtown Hanover and a short walk from St. Thomas Church. It contains a large main lounge with fireplace, a fine study room and library which boasts no closing hour, St. Christopher's Chapel, a recreation room, two kitchens, and living quarters for Father MacBurney. More than 500 students of the Episcopalian faith are members of the student association led by a 24-member Student Vestry.
THE Church of Christ at Dartmouth College, gathered by Eleazar Wheelock in 1771, has been Dartmouth's traditional church for many years and generally takes in those students not con- nected with the other denominations in Hanover - Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Unitarian, and Christian Science.
The White Church, as it is popularly known, places its emphasis on working with young people of all groups. Its student programs bring together the Hanover teen-agers, student nurses at the Hitchcock Hospital, and Dartmouth students. Dartmouth students are trained as Sunday School teachers and discussion group leaders and to organize social and recreational programs.
On the same day that Aquinas House was dedicated (April 29), the Church of Christ broke ground for construction of a new wing to the Parish House and renovations to existing facilities which will cost $250,000. Some $225,000 toward the new construction was raised in a community campaign. The expansion has a December completion date.
Construction of the new two-story wing and renovations will provide additional classroom space, new facilities for the Allen Chapel, more lounge space for social and recreational activities, and new meeting rooms and offices - a total of 14,000 square feet.
The Reverend Leonard G. Clough, Minister of the Church of Christ, reports that the new facilities will enable the church to provide better facilities for study and social groups and to move forward with more active programs among young people with Dartmouth students as leaders
"We believe the additions will make it possible for Dartmouth students to become better acquainted with each other and with various other members of our community - faculty members, personnel from the Hitchcock group, and with members of our Parish," explained Mr. Clough.
One of the major features in the new center will be a religious library, the gift of James A. Hamilton '22 as a memorial to Mrs. Hamilton. The library will be the most extensive in the area and will contain carefully selected volumes for religious reference and study by Upper Valley ministers, Dartmouth faculty members, students, and various study groups.
The man most qualified to assess the impact of these new facilities and their programs upon Dartmouth undergraduates is the Reverend Fred Berthold '45, Dean of the William Jewett Tucker Foundation. Dean Berthold writes:
"The development by the Hanover churches of facilities attractive and useful to Dartmouth men constitutes a major step forward in the effort to match intellectual growth with spiritual maturity and discernment. The College's own progress, through the Tucker Foundation and the Dartmouth Christian Union, will be complemented by having more vigorous representations of specific traditions - not alone for men already committed to them but also for the doubter or seeker. The College's inter-denominational programs will not be able to follow the Dartmouth graduate into his new community, but wherever he goes he will find churches. It is important that he understand them as clearly as possible."
The Rev. Edward H. MacBurney '49 talks with undergraduates in front of Edgerton House, new Episcopal student center.
The main lounge of the School Street building presented toSt. Thomas Church by Mr. and Mrs. Halsey C. Edgerton '06.
The recently opened Catholic student center on Webster Avenue, including, fromleft to right, St. Clement's Chapel, McDonald Hall, and Aquinas House.
The Most Rev. ErnThe MOsy Rev. Bishop of Manchester, N. H., presided at the dedication of the Catholic center on April 29 and celebrated a mass of thanksgiving inSt. Clement's Chapel, attended by many Dartmouth students and alumni.
Architect's drawing of the White Church additions now under construction.
