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The Buildings of Simmons College
The Early Residence Campus and Freshman Campus
Detail from a 1938 map showing the Main College Building and the Residence Campus.
Between 1904 and 1906 Simmons College purchased several buildings on Bellevue Street (now known as Pilgrim Road) and Short Street for use as student residence halls. In 1905 construction was completed on the first Simmons-built dormitory, South Hall, located on Brookline Avenue, as well as on the Refectory (the residents' dining hall) and the Colonnade, both located on the interior of the campus.
1907 view of South Hall, Colonnade (covered passageway),
and Refectory (dining hall) from Brookline Avenue.
Bellevue House and North Hall, the second Simmons-built (in 1907) dormitory are situated on Bellevue Street (later Pilgrim Road), which intersects Brookline Avenue.
Bellevue House,
ca 1915; purchased 1906
Construction of North Hall was completed and the building occupied in the fall of 1907.
Above, North Hall as seen from Bellevue Street, circa 1909. South Hall is visible in the background (right).
Intersecting Brookline Avnue and Bellevue Street is Short Street, upon which East House, Students House, and West House are located.
East House, 2 Short Street; purchased 1904
Students House, 4 Short Street; purchased 1904
West House, Short Street; purchased 1904
1910 saw the purchase of two additional houses along Brookline Avnue for use as student residences.
Brookline House, 281 Brookline Avenue; purchased 1910.
Originally a residence for undergraduates, begining in 1932, it was
used for graduate student housing.
Appleton House, 291 Brookline Avenue; purchased 1910
The Residence Campus of Simmons College expanded greatly in 1925 with the purchase of three houses along Pilgrim Road--Longwood, Pilgrim, and Brick--for use as upper class residences.
Longwood House (l) and Pilgrim House (r), 1944,
as seen from the Residence Campus.
Brick House, the morning
after the "big storm," 1945.
Evans Hall, shown here in the 1940s, was built by the College in 1938. It faces Brookline Avnue.
The "Freshman Houses" were located in Brookline and leased by the College between 1919 and 1954 as a means of coping with an expanding student population. These houses were occupied by Freshman, while Upperclassmen lived in the houses and dormitories at the Residence Campus.
9 & 21 Francis Street,
photographed in 1935.
Between 1919 and 1934,
these houses were residences for
Sophmores. From 1934
until 1954, Freshman
lived in these buildings.
62 Cypress Street in
Brookline, photographed
in 1927.
The house was leased by
Simmons between 1919
and 1934, during which
time it served as the
Freshman residence.
240 Kent Street,
photographed in 1944.
240 Kent Street and
"The Cottage" at
14 Newell Road in
the background,
photographed 1934.
48 Stedman Street was
leased by the College from
1917 through the1930s,
and served as a Freshman
residence.
The College Archives is pleased to present this historical survey of the buildings of Simmons College--from the earliest classrooms, and offices in Boston's Back Bay neighborhood, through the construction of the Main College Building at 300 The Fenway, the development of the Residence Campus, and recent addiitons of academic buildings and the construction and renovation of a new library.
Join us for a tour of the Buildings of Simmons College
The Early Residence Campus and Freshman Campus
Please Note: The images and text on the Simmons College Archives web site are made available for study purposes only. They may not be reproduced in any form without prior written permission from the Simmons College Archives. For further information, please call 617-521-2440.
Page updated: July 8, 2008
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