Williston Hall

History

Williston Hall was built in 1876 north of the Mary Lyon gravesite. It was named after Lyman Williston, longtime trustee and college treasurer. It was used for natural history and art classes, and burned down in 1917. For more views of Williston, look in my stereoview collection, and my cabinet card collection.

Many of the postcard views of Williston Hall also included Shattuck Hall. Shattuck Hall was the physics and chemistry building; it was built in 1892 and torn down in 1954.

The Images

All cards are available with both front and back scans, and comments about what is written on the front or back, either by the user or by the publisher, are included below.

P9097 Williston Hall

front A real photo card. "P9097 Williston Hall, Mt. Holyoke College, So. Hadley, Mass." "Photo Underwood and Underwood, NY"

back Divided back. Postmarked in South Hadley on an indecipherable date. "With best wishes that your birthday may find you a lot better. Maybe you've had this picture of Williston. It seems to me the best one there is. Lovingly, Abby H. Turner"

Shattuck Hall, Williston Hall

front "Shattuck Hall, Williston Hall, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, Mass." Hand colored. Once in the collection of William Clark.

back Divided back, postmarked Apr 4, 1911 am in Wilmot, NH. #B3024 Published by A. S. Kinney, So. Hadley, Mass. Made in Germany. An Excelsior card. "Hope you are having the best time considering the circumstances and that you will soon be able to come back again. Sincerely, Marion Cleveland 4/2/1911"

Shattuck Hall and Williston Hall

front "Mt. Holyoke College Shattuck Hall Williston Hall South Hadley, Mass." Inscription: "Loving greetings from my beloved college. Wish I could show you its beauties. Lovingly, Jessie C. Laird"

back Undivided back. Postmarked May 29, 1905 10am in South Hadley. Transit Mark on May 30, 1905 2pm in Dowagiac, Michigan.

H12464 Shattuck and Williston Halls

front "Shattuck and Williston Halls, Mt. Holyoke College, So. Hadley, Mass."

back Published by The Robbins Bros. Co., Boston, Mass and Germany, #H12464. Postmarked Oct 17, 1907 10am in South Hadley. Transit mark on Oct 17, 1907 6pm in Chesham, NH. "Dear Momma, My suitcase came all right, and I got the 5:00 car, and had plenty of time to set my tables. I was too tired to study last night and so was Elizabeth, so we went to bed and nine, and slept through all the retiring bells. Feel fine this morning. Got up and set tables for breakfast, and have been studying. The frosting wasn't melted, and the cake is fine. The girls like my hat awfully well and so do I. I hadn't really had time to see how it did look until last night. I hope you will be satisfied with yours and it will be a good swap. Love to all, Edith."

Williston Hall, Shattuck Hall

front "Williston Hall, Shattuck Hall, Mt. Holyoke College. South Hadley, Mass."

back Divided back, postmarked Oct 1, 1907 5pm in South Hadley. #A3963 Published by A. S. Kinney, South Hadley, Mass. Germany. An Excelsior card. "Dear Helen, Do write to me and tell me all the news. I have not heard from one of the girls yet and I am just wild for some news. Of course you know that I am in Mead, Vira in Safford, and Mabel in Porter, so we are pretty well scattered. Have met some nice Freshmen & like my roommate very much. Do write. Ethel." [The key to identifying these friends was Portland, Maine. The card was addressed to Portland, and all three students' hometown was Portland, and the dorms matched.]

Williston Hall

front "Williston Hall, Mount Holyoke College. South Hadley, Mass." Inscription: "Dear Bruce:- I believe you did not have this postal in your collection. It is a new one. The Seniors sit on the Williston steps. With much love, Elsie."

back Undivided back, postmarked Oct 3, 1906 5pm in South Hadley. Transit mark Oct 3, 1906 7:30pm in Springfield, Mass. #A662 Published by A. S. Kinney, South Hadley, Mass. Germany. An Excelsior card.

Williston Hall

front "Williston Hall, Mount Holyoke College. South Hadley, Mass." Inscription: "Oct. 21, 1906. Dear Aunt Eliza,- Postal received signed Auntie, and as I am not sure whether you sent it or Aunt Alma, or both, will thank you both. Had a beautiful birthday, and had a splendid box and letter from home, postals from Uncle Herbert's and a spread here in the evening. Please remember me to all. With love, Elsie May Burnham."

back Undivided back, stamp box, postmarked Oct 25, 1906 10am in South Hadley. #A662 Published by A. S. Kinney, South Hadley, Mass. Germany. An Excelsior card.

Shattuck Hall Williston Hall

front "Mt. Holyoke College Shattuck Hall Williston Hall South Hadley, Mass." Inscription: "We are beginning to have pretty cold weather. Perhaps we [?] will have skating soon. Lovingly Marion."

back Undivided back, postmarked Nov 16, 1905 7am in South Hadley. Transit marks Nov 17, 1905 1pm and 3pm in Cincinnati OH.

Williston Hall

front "Williston Hall, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, Mass."

back Divided back, stamp box, postmarked Sep 29, 1911 5:30pm in South Hadley. #B6096 Published by A. S. Kinney, So. Hadley, Mass. Made in Germany. An Excelsior card. "Suppose you are in the midst as well, as we are. Senior year seems quite real as we bought our caps & gowns the other day. I expect you had a fine vacation, & now dont work too hard. M.S.O."

3386 Shattuck and Williston Halls

front "Shattuck and Williston Halls, So. Hadley, Mass." #3386 Published by C. A. Gridley & Son. Inscription: "Here & happy. My room is in a cottage down back of Shattuck. having a grand time."

back Undivided back, stamp box, postmarked Sep 24, 1908 12midnight in South Hadley. N. E. Paper & Stationery Co. Mfrs. Ayer, Mass.

Shattuck and Williston Halls

front "Shattuck and Williston Halls, So. Hadley, Mass." #3386 Published by C. A. Gridley & Son. Inscription: "We couldn't have you this Sat. but can you come next Sat. about 4.30. We have a lecture until then. M. L. S."

back Undivided back, stamp box, postmarked Oct 15, 1907 10am in South Hadley. Stamp missing. Transit mark Oct 15, 1907 2:30pm in Amherst, Mass. N. E. Paper & Stationery Co. Mfrs. Ayer, Mass.

Shattuck Hall, Williston Hall

front "Shattuck Hall, Williston Hall, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, Mass." Inscription above "Shattuck Hall": "Science Hall"

back Divided back, postmarked Nov 6, 1908 5pm in South Hadley. #B3024 Published by A. S. Kinney. Made in Germany. An Excelsior card. "How are you and all the family? We are very well. We received Ray's announcement this morning. Thanks to a mutual friend, I was not surprised. Has the Hudson all dried up? The Connecticut has pretty nearly. Am planning to go to the Amherst College Glee Club Concert tonight, principally for the sake of getting pointers for our own a week from last night expect to go to a concert by Dolmetsch who performs on all sorts of old fashioned instruments. In between times we're making dolls clothes for the settlement work. Love from us both. Emma C. Grimes So. Hadley Mass."

2288 Williston Hall

front "Williston Hall So. Hadley, Mass. 2288" A real photo card.

back Divided back, unused.

Williston Hall Shattuck Hall

front "So. Hadley, Mass. Williston Hall Shattuck Hall Mt. Holyoke College." Badly labelled; the building names switched, and Williston Hall is actually the building on the right. Inscription: "Dear Annie, at last I have remembered to send a postal. Write soon. B. E. M."

back Undivided back, postmarked Oct 6, 1905 6:15pm in Holyoke, Mass. Flag cancel. Transit mark Oct 7, 1905 7:30am in Haverhill, Mass.

Shattuck and Williston Halls

front "Shattuck and Williston Halls at Mt. Holyoke College, near Holyoke, Mass."

back Divided back, postmarked Dec 13, 1909 10pm in Holyoke, MA. Made in Germany. #252-992. "Well is it snowing up there, it has been at it all day down here. wish I had some egg-nog. I expect to go to Brattleboro next Saturday but am not sure yet. Write. am sending cards to the girls. Will R[...] Oh yes good cider"

3386 Shattuck and Williston Halls

front "Shattuck and Williston Halls, So. Hadley, Mass." #3386 Published by C. A. Gridley & Son.

back Undivided back, stamp box, postmarked Sep 30, 1910 10am in South Hadley. Transit mark Sep 30, 1910 5pm in North Attleboro, Mass. N. E. Paper & Stationery Co. Mfrs. Ayer, Mass. "It is perfectly lovely here. Only my trunk isn't here yet, so I haven't settled. There are about 18 girls in this house. My room-mate won't be here till Mon my books haven't all come, so haven't studied much. with love. Gretchen"

H12465 Shattuck and Williston Halls

front "Shattuck and Williston Halls, Mt. Holyoke College, So. Hadley, Mass."

back Divided back, stamp box, unused. #H12465 The Robbins Bros Co, Boston, Mass and Germany.

Shattuck Hall, Williston Hall

front "Shattuck Hall, Williston Hall, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, Mass."

back Divided back, postmarked Oct 1, 1908 10am in South Hadley. #B3024 Published by A. S. Kinney. Made in Germany. An Excelsior card. "Dear Beatrice, I was awfully sorry that I didn't get a chance to come over & say good-bye to you, but the last two days were so full that I didn't get a minute. It is great up here and the girls are splendid. Am just down the hall from Dorothy Gamsby. We are in Pres. Woolley's Hall. The older girls gave us Freshies a Welcome Party to the hall. It was lots of fun. There is something doing in the way of fun every Tuesday night. Gracious but we have to study hard. Edna"

Williston Hall after the fire

front Untitled real photo of the burned-out shell of Williston Hall.

back Divided back, postmarked Jan 4, 1918 7am in South Hadley. Some black-paper album marks. "Direct front view of Williston."

Ruins of Williston Hall

front "Ruins of Williston Hall, Mt. Holyoke College, So. Hadley, Mass. Erected 1876, Burned Dec. 22, 1917." Inscription added: "(Sat)" Published by J. B. Sutcliffe, Holyoke, Mass.

back Divided back, stamp box, postally unused but inscribed "This is the way it looked when we first came back. The building at the left is Shattuck hall for Physics and Chemistry. The wind was blowing the wrong way or that would have gone too, they say. Then there would have been some explosions. There were some in Willy but not any very violent ones. I think they ought to keep the front for the new building then we'd still have Senior Steps."

11694 Shattuck and Williston Halls

front "11694. Shattuck and WIlliston Halls, Mt. Holyoke College, South Hadley, Mass." Copyright 1908 by Detroit Publishing Co.

back Divided back, stamp box, postmarked Oct 27, 1908 3pm in Greenfield Mass. A Phostint card. "send Toad down with his gun quick as there is a deer down hear, [sic] and tell him to bring a long [sic] Edson's old hat Hub."

Williston Hall

front "Williston Hall, Mt. Holyoke College, So. Hadley, Mass."

back Divided back, stamp box,postmarked Sep 28, 1914 12:30pm in South Hadley. #F3280 Published by A. S. Kinney, So. Hadley, Mass. An Excelsior card. "Dear Marion. The sole right to sit on these steps belongs to the Seniors. in the spring especially we have sings around here. The Seniors get on the steps, at least as many as can and the rest stand by them. Then the rest of us gather around and we all sing. I think that's the way it is. Thank you for your letter. Repeat the performance. Love Annetta"

Lyman Williston Hall

front "Lyman WIlliston Hall, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, Mass."

back Divided back, stamp box, unused. #1100 Published by C. A. Gridley & Son. Printed in Germany.

Shattuck Hall, Williston Hall

front "Shattuck Hall, Williston Hall, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, Mass."

back Divided back, postmarked Sep 21, 1910 5pm in South Hadley. #B3024 Published by A. S. Kinney. Made in Germany. An Excelsior card. "Dear Aunt Sarah:- We arrived here safely last evening about eight o'clock. We had a very nice trip. I met a girl from Livonia on the train, she was going to Smith College. Grace Rotzel is not on campus, she is at Mrs. Winchester's, that is a very nice place to be. Write to me whenever you have time. Love from Clara."

Campus View

front "South Hadley, Mass. Campus View, Mt. Holyoke College" A colored view of Shattuck Hall (left) and Williston Hall (right).

back Divided back, stamp box, unused. #33859 Published by Glesmann Bros., South Hadley, Mass. Made in Germany.

3386 Shattuck and Williston Halls

front "Shattuck and Williston Halls, So. Hadley, Mass." #3386 Published by C. A. Gridley & Son.

back Undivided back, postmarked Feb 18, 1911 10am in South Hadley. N. E. Paper & Stationery Co. Mfrs. Ayer, Mass. "Dear mother,- Rec'd my laundry to-day. That cake was great. Did you make it? Will write a long letter to Grammie to-morrow. Was the handle off of my laundry hamper before you sent it off? It was when I got it. It is too bad to lose it off for it was much easier to carry it then. Had a great time last night. Will write you all about in my letter. Lovingly, Winifred. Feb. 17, 1911."

Williston Hall

front Untitled view of Williston Hall.

back Divided back, stamp box, unused. "Williston Hall, Mount Holyoke College / About 1888 / Destroyed by Fire 1917" Published by Elite Printing Co., South Hadley for the South Hadley Historical Society.

Williston Hall

front "Williston Hall, South Hadley, Mass."

back Divided back, postmarked Sep 14, 1920 5:30pm in South Hadley. A.M.S. #8699. Printed in Germany. "Seems as if we'd always been here now, and S.B. like a dream. Like it here immensely. Hope all are well. Has Mrs. Farnham recovered? Will try to write letter soon. M. R. Ruggles."

Williston Hall, Shattuck Hall

front "Williston Hall. Shattuck Hall. Mt. Holyoke College. South Hadley, Mass."

back Divided back, postmarked Jun 17, 1908 10am in South Hadley. Addressed to Miss Mary E. Wills of Pottstown, Pa. #A3963 published by A. S. Kinney. Printed in Germany. "June 16, 1908 Dear M - I am having my twentieth reunion. We have had a good time we girls of '88. But I wish I might see or at least hear from you. Your old room mate S. M. Smith"

Ruins of Williston Hall

front "Ruins of Williston Hall, Mt. Holyoke College, So. Hadley, Mass. Erected 1876, Burned Dec. 22, 1917." Inscription continued from back side.

back Divided back, stamp box, postmarked Jan 1918 4:30pm in South Hadley. Stamp missing. "Jan 18th / Dear Edith, Here's a picture of the beautiful ruins which are being rapidly torn down to make room for a new building. I am so glad you liked the "Honigkuchen" or "honey cake" man. That's the kind we always used to get for Christmas when we were little. - I wish I could go sliding with you. There's a fine hill for it here. Love from Anna"

Williston and Shattuck

front A real photo view looking south toward Shattuck Hall (left) and Williston Hall. Inscription: "From the North Williston & Shattuck Halls. (Chem.)"

back Divided back, stamp box, postally unused but inscribed: "From the North / Will and & [sic] Shattuck (chem.[)]" Stamp box design dates this between 1904 and 1918.