Crouse College, also known as Crouse Memorial College and historically as John Crouse Memorial College for Women, is a building on the Syracuse University

Syracuse University

Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...

 campus. It was funded by John R. Crouse, an "enormously wealthy Syracuse banker". The architect, Archimedes Russell

Archimedes Russell

Archimedes Russell was an American architect most active in the Syracuse, New York area.Born in Andover, Massachusetts and trained under local architect Horatio Nelson White, Russell served as a professor of architecture at Syracuse University from 1873 through 1881.In the course of his career he...

, was charged with coming up with a spectacular building, and used the Romanesque revival

Romanesque Revival architecture

Romanesque Revival is a style of building employed beginning in the mid 19th century inspired by the 11th and 12th century Romanesque architecture...

—Richardsonian Romanesque

Richardsonian Romanesque

Richardsonian Romanesque is a style of Romanesque Revival architecture named after architect Henry Hobson Richardson, whose masterpiece is Trinity Church, Boston , designated a National Historic Landmark...

 style.

The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places

National Register of Historic Places

The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...

 in 1974.

History

Crouse College was home to the first College of Fine Arts in the United States and now is known for both its College of Visual and Performing Arts and the Rose, Jules R., and Stanford S. Setnor School of Music.

Construction

The first cornerstone for the new college was laid in June 1888, and the building was completed in September 1889. The building cost almost half a million dollars and was a gift from local merchant and banker, John Crouse, and his son, D. Edgar Crouse. The elder Crouse was a trustee of the university and built the college as a memorial to his wife. The architect, Archimedes Russell

Archimedes Russell

Archimedes Russell was an American architect most active in the Syracuse, New York area.Born in Andover, Massachusetts and trained under local architect Horatio Nelson White, Russell served as a professor of architecture at Syracuse University from 1873 through 1881.In the course of his career he...

, exceeded the original budget.

The building was intended for use as a women's college and was originally named the John Crouse Memorial College for Women; however, John Crouse died during its construction and his son opened the institution for use by both men and women.

At the time of construction, it was the third building on campus and the highest structure in the city. It was built in the Romanesqueue Revival style "with High Victorian Gothic qualities."

The structure is supported by a "stout" granite foundation and the exterior is covered with Longmeadow brownstone. Architectural details include high roofs, gables, dormer windows and rounded arches. The interior is "distinctively" Romanesque and carved hardwood woodwork designs, representative of the period, are displayed throughout.

Sculpture and stained glass

Winged Victory, a sculpture that was modeled after the original, which was discovered in the Mediterranean Sea and since moved to the Louvre, is located at the bottom of the main staircase. The building also contains stained glass "associated with religious subject matter and spiritual renewal." The stained glass was designed by Richard Wolff, a former faculty member, and students from the college’s School of Art and Design and was installed in 1970.

Setnor Auditorium

An auditorium seating about 700 people was included, although intended at first as a chapel. There is a pipe organ in the auditorium which is one of America's most important historic instruments. It represents a style of American organ building that flourished in the mid-20th century and is closely associated with builder Walter Holtkamp. It is widely considered to be his magnum opus.

Bell Tower

The bell tower of the building housed the first "tower chimes" installed in Syracuse, which is still in use today.

Recent Usage

Today, Crouse College houses Syracuse University's College of Visual and Performing Arts. Chiefly, its classrooms and auditorium are at the service of the Setnor School of Music

Setnor School of Music

The Rose, Jules R., and Stanford S. Setnor School of Music is one of five areas of the College of Visual and Performing Arts at Syracuse University. The Setnor School offers both undergraduate and graduate study options in a larger university setting...

.

Despite the extensive exterior renovations, the interior of Crouse College is in marked disrepair, particularly the classrooms and hallways. Much of the carpeting is new, and some of the original wooden floors have been refinished.

External links

• Crouse Memorial College, at Syracuse Then and Now
• John R. Crouse College, Syracuse University: 1 photo, at Historic American Building Survey