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History of Pomeroy Hall
(4)
Sixty students
were enrolled in the Medical College when the building was expanded
in 1858, but by 1877 the number had increased to ninety, again
causing a need for more space. In 1879 funds were raised and
used to build an addition of the rear of the 1858 rear ell of
the Medical College building.
The 18 feet by 35 feet addition
was two and a half stories with a gable roof and clapboard siding,
and measured 18 feet by 35 feet. During the same time the lecture
room on the first floor was painted and its seating capacity
was increased to 200. On the second floor the museum was "thoroughly
fitted up." The third floor amphitheater was enlarged and
its seats reupholstered. Gas was also introduced to the building
at this time presumably for lighting and use for experiments.22 The total cost of the of the
addition and renovations was $2,116.81, of which $1,957.38 was
paid for by public subscription and the remainder of $159.43
was paid for by the Medical College faculty.23
According a Burlington Free
Press article of January 30, 1880:
The Medical College has lately
been enlarged and renovated, the money (some $2,500) being contributed
by our citizens. The lower lecture room has been enlarged to
a seating capacity of some 200, the walls have been nicely tinted
and gas has been introduced. The amphitheatre has also been enlarged
and the seats newly upholstered. The museum has been thoroughly
fitted up, and a two-story addition in the rear built, 18 by
35 feet. The regular term commences the first Thursday of March,
and it is expected that the class will be the largest ever matriculated.
In 1882, just two years after
the second addition was completed, the number of medical students
enrolled at the University of Vermont had more than doubled and
the Medical College building was again found to be insufficient.
Another large addition or a new building was needed to accommodate
the increasing size of the school.24
How widely the college is known
may be inferred from the fact that the present class includes
students from nearly every State in the Union, Canada, England
and many countries of continental Europe, the Sandwich Islands,
Turkey in Asia, etc. From these circumstances there is no doubt
that the growth of the past will be much more than equaled by
that in the future. But at this point a serious consideration
arises, from the fact that the present building is inadequate
for the accommodation of the present number of students, even.
Three years ago it was repaired and enlarged, and the main lecture
room fitted to accommodate 180 students- as great an enlargement
as the building is capable of. Therefore even the present class
can not be accommodated, and no increase in numbers is practical
under the present circumstances. A new building or a large addition
to the present one is consequently an absolute necessity, if
the successful career of the institution is to be continued;
and it is high time for its friends to take hold of the matter
in earnest. The Daily Free Press and Times, 6 June 1882.
In response to this need Burlington
philanthropist John Purple Howard bought the "Underwood
Place" located on Pearl Street at the north end of the University
Green, and offered to convert it to a new Medical College building.
Howard made this offer on the condition that the University spend
a minimum of $250 dollars a year to maintain it. He also proposed
to demolish the interior of the existing Medical College building
and convert it into a gymnasium for the University.25
The University accepted the offer of Mr. Howard and the new Medical
College building is dedicated March 6, 1884. An article in the
University Cynic, however, recommends that the old Medical College
building be converted into a boarding house rather than a gymnasium,
which they feel should be more centrally located.26
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