Purple Southern Vermont College T-Shirt from '90s is Peculiar Color Choice (From SVC Bookstore)

Purple Southern Vermont College T-Shirt Clashes with Trademark SVC Green.

Somebody at the Southern Vermont College bookstore was feeling adventurous when placing an order for purple SVC logo T-shirts. While you'll have no problem finding a purple shirt in neighboring Williamstown, various shades of green undoubtedly represent SVC best. They don't call them the Purple Mountains, right?

This was another bargain-bin find from the late 1990s, purchased at the SVC bookstore when it was located in the basement of the Everett Mansion. The full retail price of the shirt was something like $29.99, which was a pretty penny in '90s dollars. After several subsequent price reductions, I became the lucky owner of this curious T-shirt for the cut-rate price of $5.99—which still amounted to about an hour of work-study pay.

Having no fashion sense of my own, the full ramifications of my new acquisition didn't become apparent until I received some good-natured ribbing from my wannabe fashion-police lounge mates.

Having said that, I get the last laugh every time I wear the purple SVC shirt. In this age of disposable fast fashion, how many people routinely wear clothes that are approaching 25 years old? The quality of this shirt has surely made amends for what was, at the time, a monumental fashion faux pas.

I've developed several theories about the curious history of the purple SVC shirt. Maybe the screen printer made an error. Maybe the bookstore employee who placed the order was colorblind. Were the purple shirts surplus from Williams College and donated to SVC? Or perhaps an SVC bookstore employee simply got a little too experimental with the color palette?

The truth may never be known. But one thing is certain: I'll proudly continue to wear the purple Southern Vermont College T-shirt—even if it means receiving a citation or two from the fashion police!

SVC, Bennington, VT Estate - Mount Anthony

Southern Vermont College 'Abbey' Room - Unique and Haunted Room on Third Floor of Bennington Estate

The Abbey's distinctive octagonal classroom, viewed from outside the building.

SVC core classes were often held in the cavernous third-floor Abbey classroom. With desks and chairs for perhaps 40 students, it was the closest Southern Vermont College came to offering big-campus, lecture-style classes.

From the outside, the Abbey was known for its distinctive octagonal shape and third-floor location. Faculty offices were also located on the third floor.

The college development office occupied prime space just below the Abbey, on the second floor. The first-floor French doors, visible in the photo, led to the library reception area.

SVC, Bennington, VT Estate - Mount Anthony

Walk From Everett Mansion to Dorms was No Fun During Mud Season (Southern Vermont College Before Shuttle)

Lumbering down the hill on a muddy day. SVC Fieldhouse in sight.

Bennington weather isn't exactly shrouded in mystery. Those of us who attended Southern Vermont College are painfully aware of the hot summers (third floor dorms, anyone?), bone chilling winters, and muddy springs. Such is life on the mountain.

Imposing Everett Mansion Gates Inspired Generations of Southern Vermont College Students

Wrought iron gates of the Everett Mansion, late 1990's.

While on their journey to higher education, SVC students passed through these distinctive gates multiple times each day. The sense of pride when entering the Everett Manion's cobblestoned courtyard cannot be understated - it was like walking into Harvard Yard, only 100X better. 

Southern Vermont College Students Affectionately Remember Living in 'Florida Stucco Style' Dorms Through Bennington, VT Winters

Southern Vermont College stucco dorms.

College campuses are known for their beautiful architecture, and SVC was no different. 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. 

Everett Mansion Turret Section a Fitting Place for SVC President's Office (Bennington, VT Architecture)

 

Everett Mansion turret housed SVC president's office.

SVC's halls of education were shepherded from the turret portion of the Everett Mansion. The bottom floor housed the President's Meeting Room (PMR) while the Office of the President was upstairs. 

Fit for royalty, the imposing turret space was an appropriate setting for the leader of SVC to hold high profile meetings, contemplate the next academic degree program, or simply take a moment of refuge from an exceedingly demanding job.

SVC's Everett Mansion - 'The Orchards' - Bennington's Version of Hogwarts School

 

The Everett Mansion on a fall day, Bennington, VT.

We slept in stucco dorms meant for the tropics of Florida but attended class in a 27-room Beaux-Arts mansion that had 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 '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 School, but we were a much less formal bunch.