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Colorado Springs Art and Culture Walking Tour
Item 2 of 5

Bemis Hall (Colorado Springs, Colorado)

Introduction

Text-to-speech Audio

This 1908 women's dormitory was one of the first buildings constructed for Colorado Springs, Colorado College. This Tudor-Revival style building was made possible through significant contributions from General William Jackson Palmer, founder of Colorado Springs and Medal of Honor Recipient, and Judson Bemis, a major manufacturer who moved to the city in 1881. The hall bears the latter's name, as well as for his daughter, Alice, who was also a major benefactor of the college. The hall is now used to host lectures, conferences, lunches and shows.

Images

Bemis Hall as it looks today

Bemis Hall as it looks today

Bemis Hall shortly after it was completed

Bemis Hall shortly after it was completed

Circa 1920s. Bemis Hall is seen in background, center-right

Circa 1920s. Bemis Hall is seen in background, center-right

Portrait of Alice Bemis Taylor, namesake of the hall. Portrait found in hall

Portrait of Alice Bemis Taylor, namesake of the hall. Portrait found in hall

Backstory and Context

Text-to-speech Audio

This ignimbrite, a Colorado volcanic rock,  structure was constructed in 1908 to offer the college's female students with safe living spaces with modern amenities, that were also scenes for social events. The hall was funded by the founder of Colorado Springs (who had helped with other buildings on campus), General William Palmer and Judson Bemis, a major manufacturer and local philanthropist. The latter's daughter, Alice, was also a benefactor of the college and was honored by having the hall named after her. The architect was Denver-based Maurice Biscoe. 

The hall is located in the residential quadrangle that faces the main quad. The hall sits near the Ticknor, McGregor, and Montgomery halls. All these buildings showcase the city's ties with New England and with prestigious British colleges such as Oxford and Cambridge. 

In the 1990s, the hall was restored and renovated through grants and funds given by the college and the Colorado Historical Fund. No longer a dorm, the hall is now used for social and educational events such as lectures, shows, conferences and lunches. 

Sources

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Brettell, Richard. Historic Denver. Denver, CO: Historic Denver, 1979.

Buildings of Colorado College, Past and Present. 1984. Revised 1988, 1991, 1996. Special Collections. Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO. http://www.coloradocollege.edu/Library/Specialcollections/ColoradoCollege/Buildings.html

Dober, Richard. Campus Design. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1992.

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Hershey, Charlie Brown. Colorado College, 1874-1949. Colorado Springs, CO: Colorado College, 1952.

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Loeffler, Bruce. Recapturing the Past: Envisioning the Future. Exhibition panels. Special Collections. Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO.

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Lucas, Andrea J. Bemis Hall [Colorado College]. National Register of Historic Places designation report. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of the Interior/National Park Service, 1997.

Lucas, Andrea J., and R. Laurie Simmons. Historic Resources of Colorado College, Colorado Springs, Colorado. National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Documentation Form. Washington, DC: U. S Department of the Interior/National Park Service, 1997.

Main Street Design. Design Guidelines: North Weber/Wahsatch Historic District/Prepared for the City of Colorado Springs and the Comprehensive Planning Division, Planning, and Development by Main Street Design. [Colorado Springs, CO]: Main Street Design, 1990.
Manning Architects, John Prosser Architects, and Winter and Company. Colorado College: Historic Preservation. [New Orleans, LA and Denver, CO: Manning Architects, John Prosser Architects, and Winter and Company], 1993.

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Reid, J. Juan. Colorado College: The First Century, 1874-1974. Colorado Springs, CO: Colorado College, 1979.

Reps, John W. Cities of the American West: A History of Frontier Urban Planning. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University, 1979.

Riley, Gresham. The Colorado College--An Informal History. New York: Newcomen Society in North America, 1982.

Sprague, Marshall. Colorado: A Bicentennial History. New York: W. W. Norton, 1976.

Sprague, Marshall. Newport in the Rockies: The Life and Good Times of Colorado Springs. Denver, CO: Sage Books, 1961.

Thompson and Rose Architects. Recapturing the Commons: The Colorado College Campus Master Plan: A Vision Through the Year 2025. Report. [Somerville, MA: Thompson and Rose Architects], 1995.

Lucas, Andrea J. (September 13, 1996). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Bemis Hall / 5EP611" (PDF). National Park Service. and accompanying photos

Additional Information