Spring 2004 - Becker College

Campus Events
Davis Hall Alumni Return
A beautiful Saturday in October set the scene as the
girls from Davis Hall arrived on campus to attend the
first all-dorm reunion. Bridging the generations, they
traveled from coast to coast to return to the scene of
many happy memories. The day started with registration
in the Weller Academic Building where the renovated
Hawk’s Nest was not recognizable as the Shanty of
the past. With a little help from name tags, the years
rolled back and the reminiscing began.
Gerry Fragola O’Hara ’53 (center) traveled from
California and met up with Jane Mansfield Bouvier ’54
and Elizabeth Byrne Gerstel ’54. Their escorts enjoyed
the day along with the ladies.
Professor John Murphey provided a fascinating lecture
about the families who occupied Davis Hall before
it was sold to the college. The Frederick Pratt family
was perhaps of greatest interest. They made a considerable
number of changes to the structure, including
remodeling the billiard room into a painting studio for
Mr. Pratt, an amateur artist who was very involved with
the art community of Worcester. When the noted international
painter John Singer Sargent came to Worcester
on a working holiday, during the summer of 1890, the
Pratt family offered him the hospitality of their home
and studio. Sargent painted five portraits in Worcester,
including one of the Pratt daughters, Katherine.
A walking tour of the campus revealed many more
changes to the visiting alumni. Most of them had never
seen the health science building and student center that
were erected by the college. Some of the familiar houses
had new looks and uses and many found it hard to
believe that the dining hall is now the bookstore and
housemothers are a distant memory!
The tour ended in the student center where Sharon
14 / BECKER BRIDGES
Latschar Foust ’62, president of the Alumni Association,
welcomed everyone and gave a brief overview of the
activities of the board of directors. After a delicious buffet
luncheon, prepared by John Halpin and his staff, it
was time for another presentation. This time Professor
Barbara Kimball displayed her expertise in the field of
interior design and arranged an interesting and humorous
slide show designed to determine the architectural
style of Davis Hall. After looking at various houses, it
was decided that Davis Hall began as a Greek Revival
structure that was extensively altered into a Victorian
house.
Finally, the reason for the reunion was at hand and
the group adjourned to Davis Hall where they explored
their old home from top to bottom. While some were
surprised to discover that their dining room now houses
the hall’s resident assistant, and that today’s building
codes require a fire wall at the top of the stairs, everyone
was pleased with the changes undertaken by the
Alumni Association.
The entrance hall was transformed with embossed
wallpaper that beautifully matched the golden oak trim.
A reproduction copper chandelier, antique mirror, lace
curtains and oriental patterned rug strongly suggest a
more elegant era. Lace curtains were hung throughout
the first floor and a chandelier went into the living
room. The most dramatic change took place on the
porch where many dances were held in the past.
Wicker furniture with floral linen cushions, a sisal rug,
curtains and accessories created an attractive place for
students to gather.
An especially meaningful addition to the living
room are three beautifully framed reproductions of portraits
that Sargent painted in Worcester. They give the
house a sense of history and a connection to the past