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Living at Smith
 

HOUSING - EMERSON HOUSE

Emerson House is one of the 10 houses of "the Quad." The short path from the Quad to the center of campus passes the president's house and offers a beautiful view of Paradise Pond. 

emerson house pic

The complex was built in stages starting in 1922 to alleviate a housing shortage on campus. When all the houses were completed in 1936, William Allen Neilson, then the president of Smith, pronounced it the "Great Quadrangle." 

emerson study pic emerson dining rm pic

A study room provides students an alternative place to work if their roommate is sleeping or Neilson Library is closed.

Every fall a unique house tradition, Emerson's Medieval Banquet, takes place. Each senior in the house invites a professor to be her personal guest at a banquet full of singing, dancing, food and lots of fun. Both students and faculty attend in medieval garb and enjoy the festivities which the junior, sophomore and first year students have planned. Emerson House has a special role in what is one of Smith's best traditions, Mountain Day. Every fall, the president of the college chooses a beautiful autumn day to cancel classes, giving students the opportunity to enjoy the foliage and the weather. No one knows when Mountain Day will be until the president has the bells rung early in the morning to signify that classes are canceled. After the bells finish ringing, Emersonians blare the "1812 Overture" on their stereos to make sure the whole Quad is aware of the holiday. A house across the Quad responds by playing the "Hallelujah Chorus." 

Files for Download

Emerson Floor Plans - 1st Floor (PDF) >

Emerson Floor Plans - 2nd Floor (PDF) >

Emerson Floor Plans - 3rd Floor (PDF) >

Emerson Floor Plans - 4th Floor (PDF) >

 

Year built

1922

Renovations

1995

Capacity

87

Residential floors

4

Singles

61

Doubles

13

Triples

0

Approximate number sharing bathroom

17

Handicapped accessible

Yes

Elevator

No

 

 

 

 

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