The History of Berks (East) Hall
As we welcome our newest dormitory, “The Courts,” to our campus, The Weekly thought it would be best to reflect on our first, East Hall. The construction of East began in 1903, and was completed by the 1904-05 school year. When it was originally built, the new dormitory was to be named “Berks Hall,” in honor of the Lutherans of Berks County’s donation of $35,000 for its construction. To this day, the name Berks still hangs over the archway of East, however due to age, it reads more like “Perks.” The wing of East that is now connected to ML was designated as Rhoads Hall, named in honor of a Lutheran donor’s recently deceased son, John Warren Rhoads. The west end of Berks was originally called Luther League Hall, again with ties to the Lutheran community. To this day the names Rhoads, Berks, and Luther can still be seen on the building from the quad.
When Muhlenberg College moved to its current campus, Berks was one of only three buildings; the others were Ettinger (then, the administration building) and the Wescoe School (then, the president’s house). The Board of Trustees bought 51 acres from Ephriam T. Butz on February 20, 1902 for the price of $15,539.40 (approximately $425,000 in today’s money). The January 1903 issue of The Muhlenberg gave students their first look at the proposed dormitory. In its description, students were told that each floor of Berks would consist of multiple suites with two bedrooms and a study, as well as a bathroom. The first floor contained a reception area, an office, and a storage space for luggage. With construction beginning just shortly after this article, students would have to wait a few more years until they got to experience Berks for themselves.
However, one student, Preston A. Barba, was able to move in early over the summer and became Berks’ first ever resident. Highlighted in James Swain’s A History of Muhlenberg College, 1848- 1967, Barba describes East, saying:
“For the students, coming for the most part from simple homes, now living in Berks Hall, in a beautiful new study with open fireplace, an adjoining bedroom, and hot showers nearby, was indeed sheer luxury. And to look from his study windows over billowy fields of farmland and the distant South Mountain... was an inspiring experience that lured to introspection and self-appraisal.”
Barba must have been so enamored with Muhlenberg’s campus, because he later became a German professor for the college.
The next big step in Berks’ history came in 1943 when the Navy V-12 program arrived on campus. The V-12 program was an accelerated college and Navy program where students would receive a two-year degree, followed by training at Midshipman’s School for the Navy-bound men or boot camp for the Marines. This program lasted until 1946. While these military men were at Muhlenberg, Berks served as their barracks. Since campus also had a West Hall dormitory on campus – later to be renamed Brown – the men nicknamed Berks “East Hall,” and the rest is history.
Seemingly cemented as a staple of Muhlenberg’s campus, East faced severe difficulties in the 1980’s, with a sinkhole being discovered underneath the “B” wing of East in 1984. Students observed cracks in their walls, and after monitoring the situation closely, Plant Operations discovered the sinkhole. Their main culprit was leaky pipes from its original construction as well as recent heavy rains eroding the soil. Seemingly mirroring our present-day experience with The Courts, the September 24th announcement of the sinkhole was next to an article entitled “Women Experience Housing Shortage.”
In another Weekly article, humorously titled “I sink; therefore, I am...relocated,” students from East Hall B recount their experience with the sinkhole – or as Muhlenberg named it for insurance purposes, “the void.” Though the students were given less than 24 hours notice to evacuate their rooms and to only take “what is needed,” Muhlenberg made all efforts to make the move as effortless as possible. In regards to housing, the college gave the fifty students four options: move into an empty space in a sorority/fraternity, move into one of the 16 empty beds in other residence halls, be assigned a space by the school, or to simply stay in a friend’s room until the problem was resolved. One of the many hastily put together housing arrangements for four lucky students was to be housed in the president’s basement. Student opinion was divided: some appreciated the college’s flexibility and responsiveness to the students, whereas others pointed out that they must have known more than 24 hours before. And indeed they had; Muhlenberg had ‘observed’ the problem for three and a half years.
With all of the students out, the sinkhole was drained and concrete was poured in to reinforce the dorms structure. It seemed they had solved the problem, until an East resident’s window spontaneously shattered; “I was just sitting in the room and the window burst. It just exploded.” Workers went back into the basement of East and saw the concrete did not solve the water problem. They replaced all the pipes, then coated them in a plastic cover. They also added reinforced steel beams as well as more concrete to further support the dorm. On February 18th, 1988, the displaced students were finally able to return “home.” Overall, though the students were obviously effected by “the void,” they didn’t seem too shaken by the occurrence. The Weekly even joked about it in that year’s April Fools article.
East has also seen countless minor repairs, many of which subtracted from its historic charm: fireplaces were boarded up and painted over, the copper cupolas over the entrance were removed, and the ceilings were lowered to cover up new ductwork. On top of its need for a facelift, East severely needed to be updated with laundry rooms and lounges. In 2012, Muhlenberg decided the 100-year-old building deserved better, and underwent a massive $13 million renovation. The major goal was to add a new wing, now with an elevator and 36 additional beds, but also to restore much of East’s rustic charm.
Originally built to unite the small class of only 100 men under one roof, East Hall has continued to house students for over 110 years. These residents of East are not only united by a building, but are tied to a piece of Muhlenberg history. The recent renovations have brought East closer to its original roots, and it will hopefully remain a constant reminder of Muhlenberg’s humble beginnings and inspiring future.