The demolition of the MoCon began on Friday. Project Manager Alan Rubacha told me that the building will be largely demolished by the end of the week, but that removal of the cement foundation will take much of the summer. Wesleyan plans to leave the resulting area as open space.
The Wesleyan dining hall, concert venue, and student meeting space was built in 1962. During its 48 years, MoCon has hosted appearances by Nina Simone, Martin Luther King Jr., Joan Crawford, Doc Watson, Gloria Steinem, and Norman Mailer, among many others.
Why?
ReplyDeleteWhat? This was architecturally the most interesting building on campus! As an alum, why should Wesleyan ever care about such things. That's why they call themselves and "almost Ivy" and why I refuse to give them a penny.
ReplyDeleteIt hurts my heart to see these pictures. It's hard to imagine Wesleyan without Mocon. Nonetheless, I've been told on good authority that Wesleyan had a reason for demolishing the building. I was told that it was so energy inefficient that the University had to spend tons of money (and heat) just to keep the pipes from bursting in winter. I heard that they tried to find a way to keep it going. I don't know for sure. Perhaps someone else who knows more will comment.
ReplyDeleteOH i had no idea. That is rather sad. I grew up in Middletown driving past that building and even ate there when I went to volleyball camp! LOL Kind of sad to see it go.
ReplyDeleteHow sad... I used to live across the street from there many years ago. That was were I had my first paying job. I was 15 and serving dinner to all the college students. It was so much fun. Sorry to see it go.
ReplyDeleteThe current Wes president, Michael Roth, posted about the Mocon decision on his blog. If you are wondering why they moved forward with the demolition, take a look: http://roth.blogs.wesleyan.edu/2010/04/20/mocon-decision/
ReplyDeleteand of course Roth's blog now blocks comments.
ReplyDeleteOnes like "Thank you for giving me a reason to ignore all those calls from the Annual Fund. What an utter lack of leadership.
I am thoroughly disgusted by this move, and how it appears no one seems willing to lift a finger to paint the Van Vleck dome, but there's plenty of cash for crud like that Glass Thing between the Chapel & the '92."
It is sad to see this. In our family (which includes a Wes Alum who enjoyed dining in Mocon), we refer to the Glass Thing as the bus stop.
ReplyDeleteActually, the Van Vleck dome was just painted the other day. FYI
ReplyDelete