Activity Center
Location
42.390422, -71.205831History
Although the experimental West building was considered a success, it was clear that in a few years these children would become young adults and a single gender-separated building would not be ideal. Separate buildings would need to be constructed for each gender above a certain age, and the first to be built was the Boys' Dormitory. Being a bit older than the other children, most of these boys worked on the school's farm and construction projects, such as clearing land for new buildings, laying the field stone foundations, and digging trenches for steam and water mains. In 1895 a small addition was made in the rear of the building to be used as a coat and wash room, since the boys would return quite dusty from the day's work. At some point, outdoor showers were installed in the courtyard.
During the mid-20th century, the role of the building changed to become the Activity Center, used for the residents' day programs. The upper floors were sealed off, likely due to the inability to keep the building compliant with fire safety code. The building was eventually phased out with the opening of the Training Activity Center in 1963. It was likely condemned around the same time as Waverley.
Architectural Description
Located immediately northeast of Waverley Hall and constructed in the same year, the Activity Center is similar in style and appearance. It also faces over a similar landscaped lawn area. It is a three-story, red brick structure resting on a fieldstone foundation and trimmed with a corbelled cornice, and sandstone sills and beltcourses. The eleven-bay facade is organized with a projecting five-bay central section defined by exterior chimneys. Here the three central bays are slightly bowed within a massive round-arched opening that rises above the hip-roofed entry porch. The flanking sections display blind arches outlined by burnt headers that link first- and second-story windows, while the upper story is set off by a secondary corbelled cornice. The same features are found on the four-bay side elevations. Windows generally contain 8/8 sash.
Historic Images
Photo Gallery
Related Documents
Boys' Dormitory Entrance
Entrance to the Boys' Dormitory building, erected in 1891 for the young boys at the institution. The able-bodied children living here were used as free manual labor for the institution, digging foundations, pave roads and work the school's farm.
Boys' Dormitory Dining Room
A view of the dining room in the Boys' Dormitory (later known as the Activity Center) in 1903, contrasted with the same angle 116 years later.