St. John Observatory (left), Stickney Hall (center), Seabury Hall (right). Photo Credit: Trinity College Archives

Stickney Hall, also called the Campus Cottage, was a nondescript wooden house that served as College dining, student commons and later, was home to the Brownell Club.

In 1896, the old gymnasium, which stood at about the site of the Smith House, burnt down.

An almost exact replica was erected to the south of Seabury Hall to provide a French classroom, a mechanical drawing room, and a reading room. The students called this building “Martin Hall” for Professor Winfred R. Martin, whose French classroom was located there…In 1902, it was replaced by a commons building of two stories. The students called the new commons “Stickney Hall” for Mr. and Mrs. Stickney who managed the college dining facilities from 1900 until World War I. ¹⁾

Originally intended to be a temporary structure, Stickney stood South of Seabury Hall on the Long Walk until 1931, when it was moved to make way for Cook Commons (later the Hamlin Dining Hall). The Brownell Club, which was organized in 1948, established a room in Stickney Hall in 1950. The structure was demolished in 1962 to make way for McCook Academic Building, which stands on the same site.

A Trustees Meeting held March 15, 1889 had discussed the needs of the growing College, which presently had more students than it could accommodate. The Trustees felt that erecting temporary buildings was the best measure, until funds could be raised: “the grounds which were originally allotted to the permanent buildings which were contemplated, and of which a portion has been erected, should not be encroached upon; but that they be left unoccupied at present, in order to invite the benefactions of those who may desire to erect memorials in connection with the College.” ²⁾

In March 1891, students voiced their dissatisfaction³⁾ at the “incongruity of paying lip service to the [William] Burges four-quadrangle plan and at the same time erecting inferior buildings…especially disgraceful in view of the increased resources of which the College was boasting.” ⁴⁾

Trinity College in the Twentieth Century (2000) by Peter and Anne Knapp, pp. 47, 125.

The History of Trinity College (1967) by Glenn Weaver, p. 236.

Trinity Tablet, March 1891

Trinity Trustees Minutes, Vol. 2, 1888-1907.