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Munson Hall
Constructed: 1898
Architect: Emory A. Ellsworth, Holyoke, Mass.
Design and Construction
A two-story building in brick, with wood and brownstone trim, Munson Hall was originally built as a veterinary laboratory under the guidance of James B. Paige, for whom it was originally named. The features of the building defy simple categorization, but include a porch with classical columns and heavy entablature molding under the roof. The exterior draws upon an eclectic mix of design, ranging from late Queen Anne fusing with Colonial Revival and a tincture of Gothic.
The paired semi-circular bays and hipped roof with a central dormer contribute to the symmetry of the building. In later years, Munson Hall has housed the University's Communications and Marketing Division, including the Campus Chronicle, News Office, Publications, and UMass Magazine.
Naming of the building
In 1951, when a new veterinary pathology building was completed, what was then called Paige Laboratory became the Center for Extension Service and was renamed in honor of Willard A. Munson, a captain of the successful football team of 1904 and later director of the Extension Service from 1926 to 1950.
Source
- Norton, Paul F., Amherst: A Guide to Its Architecture (Amherst, 1975)
- Three Architectural Tours: Selected Buildings on the Campus of the University of Massachusetts Amherst (Amherst, 2000)
- For additional information, consult the University Archives (RG 36/101).
