Moravian Preservation Master Plan.indb - Society for College and ...

Moravian College • Preservation Master Plan
modified by college landscaping, archeological
potential of this property is considered to be high.
Material remains associated with the occupants
of the farm complex may be present. Besides the
house, a working farm would have included barns,
wells, privies, sheds, midden areas, and other
outbuildings – archeological remains of these
resources may still be extant beneath the present
ground surface. The locations of those former
structures at the farmstead are not currently known.
The potential for prehistoric (Native American)
archeological resources is likely to be low in this
character area. Archeological resources (features
and artifacts) associated with the college buildings
are also likely to be present.
Signifi cance and Integrity Evaluation
As a group, the buildings that surround the Old
Quad vary in significance and integrity, but the
presence of a number of utility features further
detract from the character of the open, shaded,
contemplative space that is desired by the college.
Hamilton Hall has only moderate integrity due to
the loss of its rural setting and its significance is
primarily historical. On the other hand, Comenius
is the most significant of the North Main Street
Campus’ historic buildings and retains a high level
of integrity. Zinzendorf was constructed at the same
time as Comenius and its exterior has a high level of
integrity, particularly as the eccentric, stone-topped
window wells on its west side have been retained
and add to its historic character. Monocacy Hall is
not overly distinctive and there has been some loss
of exterior features, but Memorial Hall’s exterior is
in excellent condition.
While the Old Quad space has only moderate
integrity from the historic period, it has great
potential to be successful as an adaptively re-used
space. With the exception of the north end, the quad
is no longer used for parking or other vehicular
uses and it possesses a functional and attractive
circulation system that is in good condition. Shade
trees have been added that create a translucent
ceiling to the space and this adds to its sense of
enclosure. Scatterings of small plantings and site
furnishings detract from the simplicity of the
space, but this is easily remedied. Of most concern
is the poor appearance of utility features located
along building walls, which recollects the original
service function of the space. However, this is
easily remedied with consolidation, relocation, and
screening.
Monocacy Quad Character Area
The Monocacy Quad character area is defined
on the east by the west sides of Monocacy Hall,
Zinzendorf Hall, and Hamilton Hall; on the west by
Reeves Library; on the south by Locust Street, and
on the north by W. Elizabeth Avenue (figure 5-101).
This area was once a residential block of Monocacy
Street, which still extends from the north and south
ends of the area (see figure 5-80). In 1966, seven large
late nineteenth to early twentieth century houses
that faced onto Monocacy Street were demolished
and the street was vacated and absorbed into the
campus grounds to accommodate the Reeves
Library (Weinlick 1977:112) (see figure 5-94).
Natural Systems and Features
The Monocacy Quad character area does not
include any notable natural features.
Contributing features:
• None identified
Buildings
Five buildings enclose the Monocacy Quad area:
Hamilton House, Zinzendorf Hall, Monocacy Hall,
Memorial Hall, and the Reeves Library. Hamilton
was originally a farmhouse and was constructed
in the 1820s; it and Zinzendorf Hall were officially
occupied by the college in September 1892. A new
gambrel-roofed brick gymnasium, now known as
Monocacy Hall, was added south of Zinzendorf
in 1913. In 1923, the Memorial Science Building,
now Memorial Hall, was constructed in Colonial
Revival style, and completed the east enclosure of
the Monocacy Quad space.
After the residences were demolished along that
block of Monocacy Street, Reeves Library was
constructed in their place and completed in 1967.
The new 200,000-volume library replaced both
Harvey Library, at the south end of Comenius
Hall, and the Library Annex, which was in what is
now Monocacy Hall. Reeves Library was further
expanded when additions to each end were
constructed in 1992 (Schamberger 2008, personal
communication).
For more detailed building descriptions, analysis,
and discussion, refer to Chapter 8 of this report.
John Milner Associates • October 2009 • Chapter 5 • Cultural Landscapes • 112