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

Moravian College • Preservation Master Plan
both the community and those affiliated with the
College.
Most of the historic buildings in the Hurd Campus
have changed to varying degrees over time, both in
use and in terms of alterations. Changes will most
likely continue to occur as programs, institutional
needs, and technology evolve. In most cases, the
buildings can accommodate evolving rehabilitation
and adaptive reuse.
The historic buildings in the Hurd Campus
character area, presented in geographical order
beginning with the Single Brethren’s House and
proceeding south and then east, include:
• The Single Brethren’s House,
• West Hall,
• Old Chapel/Hearst Hall,
• New Chapel/Peter Hall,
• South Hall,
• Payne Art Gallery,
• Day House,
• Main Hall,
• Frueauff House,
• The Widows’ House, and
• Clewell Hall.
Continental Army for use as its primary hospital
for hundreds of wounded soldiers.
In 1814, as the population of the house dwindled,
the Church conveyed the Single Brethren’s House
and six adjoining acres to the Moravian Seminary
for Young Ladies, a Moravian girls’ boarding
school founded in 1742. Renovations to the interior
of the Single Brethren’s House occurred at this
time, including installation of the Federal-style
end stairwells and probably the reconfiguring of
the front entrances to eliminate the original central
entries and create new ones at the stairwells. Over
the next 40 years, the building housed nearly all
the functions of the school, including dormitories,
refectory, classrooms, and chapel. As the school
grew, the building became too small and additional
buildings were constructed adjacent to the Single
Brethren’s House. The Old Chapel building was
constructed at the southwest corner of the Single
Brethren’s House in 1848, providing a refectory and
a top-floor chapel. Main Hall, built in 1854, was the
second of these new buildings and was connected
The Single Brethren’s House – 1748
Historical Development
The Single Brethren’s House was constructed in
1748, using wood floated downriver from the
Moravian sawmill at Gnadenhuetten. As with the
Gemeinhaus across the street, the Single Brethren’s
House had strong European characteristics,
including its thick stone wall and tiled doublemansard
roof with small dormers. A large platform
atop the roof provided a place for a trombone choir
to broadcast messages to the community and play
music to accompany festive events below. Deaths
were announced through the playing of specific
hymns to indicate the decedent’s choir. This practice
continued until Central Church was constructed in
1804. The building originally contained dormitories,
workshop space, kitchen and dining facilities, and a
chapel for the Single Brethren’s Choir. Many of the
residents worked at skilled crafts in the building,
such as hatmaking. During the winters of 1776-1777
and 1777-1778, the building was taken over by the
Figure 8-1. Single Brethren’s House, general view from the north
(JMA 2008).
Figure 8-2. Single Brethren’s House, general view from the south
(JMA 2008).
John Milner Associates • October 2009 • Chapter 8 • Historic Buildings • 174