Surviving Vermont Winters in SVC's 'Florida-Style' Stucco Dorms

"Florida-style" living on a Vermont mountain!

College campuses are known for their beautiful architecture, and SVC was no exception. The Everett Mansion was the pride of Southern Vermont College and all of Bennington. Built in the Norman Revival and Beaux-Arts styles, the mansion resembled a feudal castle.

At the opposite extreme, SVC's stucco dorms were not architecturally significant, to put it mildly. This photo dates back to the late 1990s and shows Aldis Hall, Bowen Hall, and Cady Hall (affectionately known as A, B, and C dorms). The dining hall and the edge of Darby Hall can be seen on the far right.

Built in 1985, Aldis, Bowen, and Cady were the first dormitories constructed on the SVC campus. Often ridiculed for their tropical appearance and papier-mâché-like exterior, the dorms did not jibe with the storied past of the Everett Mansion.

Appearances improved under the administration of President Barbara Sirvis, who wrapped the buildings in gray clapboard vinyl siding to achieve a more traditional New England look. Her efforts were greatly appreciated.

Thin walls with zero soundproofing, rooms coated in 40 layers of paint, and showers that took an eternity to heat up were just a few of the trademark attributes of living on campus at Southern Vermont College. 

Yet, as is often the case with despised architecture, alumni who once lived in SVC's stucco dorms have warmed up to the memories of "Florida-style" living in Vermont. While the buildings once evoked widespread hatred, alumni now look back through rose-colored glasses, fondly remembering the moments that took place inside those once-loathed halls.

Can we start a petition to add the SVC dorms to the National Register of Historic Places? Just sayin'.

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Vintage Bennington, Vermont

The Everett Mansion Turret: Historic SVC President’s Office in Bennington, Vermont

Fit for campus leadership: An exterior view of the Everett Mansion’s iconic stone turret.

SVC's halls of education were shepherded from the turret of the Everett Mansion. The ground floor housed the President's Meeting Room (PMR), while the Office of the President sat directly upstairs.

Fit for royalty, the imposing turret space provided an appropriate setting for SVC's leadership to hold high-profile meetings, contemplate new academic degree programs, or simply take a moment of refuge from an exceedingly demanding job.

Presidents of Southern Vermont College

• Sr. Mary Michael, SSJ

• Sr. Mary Anthony, SSJ

• Sr. Mary Barbara, SSJ

• Sr. Mary Christine, SSJ (First Named President)

• Sr. Julia Marie, SSJ

• Fr. Charles C. Matusik, C.S.C.

• James G. Donahue

• Thomas Gee

• William A. Glasser

• Barbara Pickard Sirvis

• Karen Gross

• David Rees Evans

"Three Sisters of Saint Joseph served as heads of Saint Joseph College from 1926 to 1953. Although they were never officially given the title President, we recognize their contributions and thank them for their leadership."

— New Challenges, New Opportunities: The Inauguration of Barbara Pickard Sirvis (1997)

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Historic Bennington, Vermont Vintage Map

SVC’s Everett Mansion: Bennington’s Version of Hogwarts

 

Class in a castle: The iconic Everett Mansion at Southern Vermont College.

We slept in stucco dorms meant for the tropics of Florida, but attended class in a 27-room Beaux-Arts mansion with a spot on the National Register of Historic Places. 

The Everett Mansion was an architectural masterpiece every SVC student was intensely proud of. Resembling a castle or monastery, "The Orchards" was easily the most prominent building on campus.

Thankfully, SVC was a laid-back environment, and it wasn't uncommon for students to attend class in their pajamas. The Everett Mansion may have resembled Hogwarts, but we were a much less formal bunch.

Midnight walks to the Mansion were frequent in warmer weather, and students could usually count on experiencing some sort of paranormal activity. Doors slamming and flickering lights were common, while an unsettling female shrieking noise was also frequently documented.

On rare occasions, rock music blared from the Mansion into the wee hours of the morning, leaving students perplexed: Did the ghosts of the Everett Estate embrace modern rock?

As it turns out, Security Officer Joe Thomas had a completely valid explanation: Dean of Institutional Advancement Alan Whitcomb enjoyed blasting music during all-night grant writing sessions in his office. 

Giving the ghosts a little entertainment was probably a smart move—whatever it takes to keep the spirits happy.

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Bennington Monument, Old Bennington, Vermont

The 'Luxury' SVC Folder: The Ultimate Flex of Southern Vermont College Pride

The "Cadillac of SVC folders"—embossed seal, inner pockets, and built to survive the semester.

If you were in the market for a pocket folder at the SVC bookstore, this was as good as it got. Featuring two inner pockets and embossed with the official Southern Vermont College seal, this item sat proudly in the high-end section of the school supply aisle.

As a thrifty student, I never actually bought one myself. Generic folders from Walmart were more my cup of tea—usually held together by bumper stickers by the time the semester rolled to a close.

To be sure, there was a market for the "Cadillac of SVC folders," though it typically consisted of faculty, staff, non-traditional students, and alumni.

I eventually came into possession of this executive-style folder during my sophomore year while taking a class with upperclassmen. One of the graduating seniors, observing my frugal habits, handed down the lightly worn folder for me to use the following year.

That next fall, it was hard to hide my pride as a work-study student flexing a top-of-the-line SVC folder. I'm happy to report that it remains intact and fully functional all these years later. Just like our memories of SVC, this folder is built to last!

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Southern Vermont College Mansion, Bennington Glass

SVC Bennington 'Golf Style' Sweatshirt - Purchased from College Bookstore in 1990's

Turned out my 1990s "fuddy-duddy" sweater was just ahead of its time.

The College bookstore was known to stock a wide variety of SVC-branded apparel. This vintage sweatshirt dates back to the late 1990s and was almost certainly marketed to visiting dads and grandfathers.

As a young college student, it was an unlikely choice alongside the Sean John, Tommy Hilfiger, and Von Dutch brands that dominated the era. 

In fact, some speculated the sweatshirt was specifically curated for Professors Bob Consalvo and Tony Nuvallie, who were known to play a round at Mount Anthony Country Club after a day in the classroom.

Although my fashion tastes didn't naturally gravitate toward it, its spot in the bargain bin appealed to my Yankee thrift sensibilities.

The tag shows the original $39.95 price crossed off and replaced with $25, which was later marked down again. Ultimately, this "professional style" SVC sweatshirt sold for just $9.99. 

I vividly remember bookstore manager Wanda breathing a sigh of relief as I walked out of the basement shop with the stodgy-looking sweater draped over my arm.

These days, I'm older and more conservative in how I dress. This fuddy-duddy Southern Vermont College sweatshirt might actually go a long way in burnishing my professional credentials.

Maybe it's finally time to take off the tag.

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Bennington, VT (Green Mountains Apres Ski Village)

Southern Vermont College's 2002–2003 'Dream Team': The 24–6 Season that Made Mountaineer History

A faded piece of SVC Mountaineer history.

Legendary Coach Ryan Marks skillfully guided the 2002–2003 Southern Vermont College Men's Basketball Team to a record-breaking 24–6 season, catapulting the small Bennington college to NCAA glory and nationwide recognition. 

Widely remembered as the SVC 'Dream Team,' this legendary squad featured an unmatched roster that included Nick 'Frenchy' Bourgade, Charles Beekman, Sean Ezell, Cortney Denison, Lydale Waller, Joe Welch, Marius 'Big Lit' Zalieckas, Drew Santandera, Tyrese Thomas, Marcus Fefee, Julio Ramirez, and Tyler Tuomisto.

The fabled season was built on grit, beginning with Coach Marks' infamous crack-of-dawn practices. A demanding leader, Marks went above and beyond for his players—preparing them for the intensity of the court while mentoring them for life.

Game days brought electric excitement to SVC’s mountainside campus. The entire college would pack into the Mountaineers' compact fieldhouse to witness history in the making. 

The cozy gym gave fans an up-close-and-personal view of the action, and the crowd would roar with approval every time 'Frenchy' pulled off a seemingly impossible pass or Marcus Fefee drained a sensational, buzzer-beating three-pointer.

An SVC home game wasn't complete without Coach Marks keeping the officials on their toes. When animated hand gestures weren't enough, he was known to hurl his suit jacket in disgust. Never one to hide his passion, Coach Marks gave SVC mascot Monty the Moose a run for his money when it came to electrifying the gym.