Get Herald RSSThough there will likely be architectural casualties over the next few years as the University continues to expand, one historic building will not be among them.
Peter Green House - the cozy three-story building that houses half of the Department of History - will be picked up and moved to a nearby location at the end of the academic year. The house will be moved to make way for the Walk, a pedestrian pathway that will link Lincoln Field to Pembroke Campus.
The house, currently located on Angell Street between Thayer and Brown streets, will be relocated to a lot just west of its current location, at the corner of Angell and Brown steets.
Built in 1868, Peter Green House has its historical significance and architectural appeal to thank for the mercy granted to it by University planners, who could have instead slated the house for demolition.
The building's current occupants - history faculty and administrative staff - say they are glad the house is being saved, even though the move will force them to relocate to temporary offices for an extended time.
"I'm delighted that they've decided not to knock down our building," said Professor of History Ken Sacks. "I think it has a lot of charm," he added.
"You can't replace this building ever," said a history department administrative assistant. "Look at the beautiful floors," she said, pointing to the patterned parquet floor. She also noted that "every room has a fireplace," though fire codes prevent the use of them.
The house also features a wood-paneled foyer and a spacious first floor classroom with a slanted ceiling in the back of the house and a door that exits onto the side porch.
Richard Spies, executive vice president for planning and senior advisor to the president, said Peter Green House "is a contributing structure" to the historic College Hill neighborhood. He said the decision to move the house was part of the University's effort to "consolidate the core" of campus - meaning using space in the heart of campus more efficiently by replacing smaller houses with larger buildings and moving the smaller houses to the edge of campus.
The house underwent interior and exterior renovations in 1999, when air conditioning and bookshelves were installed and the heating and electrical systems were refurbished, among other improvements.
Peter Green MA'80 P'99 P'01, who received his master's degree in history, donated the funds for the renovation in honor of his late wife, Mary-Jean Mitchell Green P'99 P'01, who died of cancer at a young age. The house, which has been owned by the University since 1966 and was previously known as the Lippitt-Guild House, then took Green's name. Green is a member of the Brown Corporation.
People who work in the house have a range of feelings about the upcoming move. According to History Department Manager Karen Mota, the move will force occupants to relocate to the Metcalf Chemistry Building for six to nine months, during which time access to their books will be highly limited.
"I personally am dreading it," Mota said, recalling that the last time the building had to be emptied out - for the 1999 renovations - was "excruciatingly difficult."
"Everything has to be boxed," she said. "Things get lost."
The primary advantage of the move, she said, is that the renovated Peter Green House will have new office space. Because the building's new lot is slanted, offices can be added to the basement level, which will have a door on Angell Street. The front door of the house will be on Brown Street, she said.
"We do need the office space. It's worth the trouble," Sacks said. "I'm somewhat stoic about it. They've been taking so long that I've been able to make peace with it,"
The 1999 renovation "was a hassle, but we put up with it," he added. "And we got a better building out of it. And hopefully this time we'll get a better building too."
"I haven't heard many complaints" from other history professors, Sacks said, adding, "At this point, I just wish they would do it to get it over with."
