Southern Vermont College '90s Apparel: The Story of the Purple T-Shirt

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

Ghost Stories on the Third Floor: SVC’s Haunted 'Abbey' Room

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

Trudging Back to the Dorms: Surviving Spring Mud Season at SVC

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.

Trudging up the hill to attend class in the Everett Mansion was generally a pleasant affair. The benefits were numerous: fresh air, exercise, and the satisfaction of knowing we were single-handedly reducing mankind's carbon footprint. Having said that, Vermont weather posed frequent challenges.

During bouts of rain or snow, SVC faculty, staff, and non-traditional students all pitched in by offering dorm dwellers a ride up the hill. Perhaps the most generous motorist was President Barbara Sirvis herself, who never failed to offer students a lift in her glorious Buick Rendezvous.

With the advent of President Karen Gross, a shuttle was introduced to whisk students from the dorms to the Everett Mansion in record time, and a newly paved road ensured they traveled in comfort. 

While these embellishments improved the quality of life for on-campus students, there was something to be said for the old system of Vermont ingenuity.

Often, disparate members of the SVC community met and got to know one another during that short ride up the hill. That willingness to lend a hand was a small part of why SVC was special. 

Attending a college where everyone was a familiar face made for a nurturing and supportive learning environment. Try as they might, institutions like the University of Phoenix and Southern New Hampshire University will never be able to recreate what SVC so masterfully curated: the tight-knit culture of a small college.

Southern Vermont College Mansion, Bennington

Welcoming Generations of Mountaineers: The Historic Everett Mansion Gates

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 Mansion's cobblestoned courtyard cannot be understated—it was like walking into Harvard Yard, only 100 times better.

SVC held its Convocation in the courtyard, and Professor Greg Winterhalter frequently utilized the area's whimsical architecture for his painting and art history classes. 

Photo shoots in front of the Mansion's famous cascading waterfall were a must for tourists, visiting family members, and graduates on commencement day.

Although the original wrought iron gates were in working order, they were never closed. SVC Security conducted rounds of the Mansion throughout the night, keeping an eye out for mischievous students and paranormal activity.

This photo dates back to the late 1990s, and the signage has since been updated. It's unclear if SVC's insignia still graces the Mansion's granite pillars. 

Knowing the Everett Estate's somber history, taking the sign down feels like it would be a bad omen—so perhaps it's still there.

Bennington, Vermont Mansion

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'.

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)

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.

Bennington Monument, Old Bennington, Vermont