Jarvis Hall, the left-most of the three original campus buildings, ca. 1870. Photo credit: Trinity College Archives

The original Jarvis Hall was built in 1825 on Trinity's old campus and was called “The College” until 1845.

Designed by Solomon Willard in ionic style with Portland brownstone, it had rooms for faculty and students as well as a residence wing for the college president and his family. Willard's signature is visible on the architectural plan for the building in the College Archives.

Jarvis, named for Bishop Abraham Jarvis, was one of three College halls built on the original campus; the others were Seabury Hall (1825) and Brownell Hall (1845), also named after the first Episcopal Bishops of Connecticut.

According to a student writing for the Tablet, “J.H.” was carved into the wall by Jarvis's north front door, “and almost every one has supposed it stood for Jarvis Hall.” However, the initials were carved in 1864 by Henry Hovey, Class of 1866, in memory of himself and Jennings, who was a member of the class of 1861 and ordained in 1864. The carvings accompanied ivy that Hovey planted on Jarvis Hall.

Jarvis Hall was emptied and demolished in the summer of 1878 after the State of Connecticut purchased the campus to become the site of the new State Capitol. When Trinity moved to its current Summit Campus, one of the first Long Walk buildings was named Jarvis Hall.

Trinity College Alumni Magazine, January 1964, p. 6.

Calendar of Trinity College, 1855, p. 8.

Catalogue of Trinity College, 1855, p. 7.