Diag icon

The Benjamin Franklin statue donated by the Class of 1870, which stood on the Diag on the east side of South State (at right is the First Congregational Church), was damaged in 1899 when a student shoved a beer bottle into Ben’s “pocket,” creating a hole in the hollow pewter statue. To prevent deterioration, the plant department drilled a hole in Ben’s head and filled the statue with cement. But as winter approached, the cement froze and expanded, causing one of Ben’s arms to fall off, which forced removal of the statue. — President’s Advisory Committee on Public Art website 

This week in history (161 years ago)

As the winter of 1849 approached, to stay warm students who lodged in the new South College building paid $1.25-$1.50 for firewood, which they had to split in the wood yard and carry to their rooms. Students also paid $7.50 a term for their room and $2.50 for incidentals, and they collected water from a pump for washing and furnished their own candles. In 1950, after a fire destroyed Haven Hall, the entire University Hall complex — which included the South College Building — was removed to make room for the expansion of Angell Hall.
­— Courtesy Bentley Historical Library

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