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

Moravian College • Preservation Master Plan
Beginning in 1953, the Gymnasium was used
for a variety of other purposes, which changed
periodically as needs arose. It was used as a
theater from 1953 to 1960. In 1960, it became the
Library Annex, housing overflow materials from
the outgrown Harvey Library. Following the
completion of Reeves Library, the Library Annex
was converted from a library to the Psychology
Department in 1967. At this point it was renamed
Monocacy Hall, in honor of the adjacent Monocacy
Street. Monocacy Hall remained the home of the
Psychology Department until 2004, when it was
renovated once again to house offices for the dean,
registrar, and multicultural affairs (Schamberger
2008).
Signifi cance
Monocacy Hall is the first purpose-built gymnasium
on the North Main Street campus and served as
such for 40 years. Architecturally, it is an example
of a Dutch Colonial Revival campus athletic facility
of its era, which is somewhat unusual in a period
where classical/Georgian Colonial Revival was
prevalent for such buildings. However, Monocacy
Hall is not overly distinctive, and the south atrium
addition and unsympathetic alterations to the
windows have resulted in significant loss of exterior
integrity. Renovation of the interior for alternate
uses has eliminated the primary large gymnasium
space, and little historic fabric remains visible.
Integrity
A considerable amount of the historic architectural
integrity at Monocacy Hall has been compromised
by newer alterations. The building retains moderate
integrity on the exterior, with changes including
replacements and alterations of the original
windows and the addition of a modern atrium
on its south end. Its interior has been renovated
multiple times and a second floor was added in the
original full-height gymnasium space. The original
ceiling, dormers, and roof trusses are visible from
the open upper-level office space, but the interior
otherwise lacks historic fabric.
Condition
Summary
Figure 8-256. Monocacy Hall, view to east (JMA 2008).
Monocacy Hall is a two-story oblong red brick
building with a raised basement. It has an asphaltshingled
Dutch Colonial gambrel roof with small
shed dormers, but otherwise features symmetrical
Colonial Revival details. Its north and south ends
contain the major entrances and are considered
to be the primary façades. Its long sides are five
bays long with double-height, round-arched
Figure 8-257. Monocacy Hall, view to north showing 2004 south
atrium (JMA 2009).
Figure 8-258. Monocacy Hall, view to west-northwest (JMA
2009).
John Milner Associates • October 2009 • Chapter 8 • Historic Buildings • 253