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The cupola sits on the lawn by Founders Hall after its removal from the roof late last spring before it headed for restoration.

This coming fall, students and visitors on campus听will be able to appreciate听a unique symbol of Saint Michael鈥檚 history, when the cupola that once sat atop听the first and oldest building on Saint Michael’s campus before the College took it down last year — Founders Hall 鈥� returns from restoration.听

Founders was demolished in the spring and summer of 2021 after many years of discussions, renovations, and attempts to save it. Old Hall, as it was originally called, was home to many students since the College鈥檚 founding. Founder鈥檚 Hall held residences, classrooms, offices, and a place in the hearts of many staff, students, and alumni as a beacon of the College鈥檚 history.听

Atop the building before removal or restoration in 2021.

Parts of the building were carefully and thoughtfully repurposed throughout the demolition process. Saint Michael’s College recycling the copper pipes, cast-iron radiators, wires, slate, and bricks was the best way to respect the history of the building while also being responsible about the dispersion of resources.听听

Most significantly, the cupola that sat atop Founder鈥檚 Hall was saved as a historical aspect of the College. Being the Saint Michael’s College logo, the cupola represents a great deal of Saint Michael鈥檚 culture, history, and significance to alumni and current students, faculty, and staff.听听

According to Joel Ribout, director of facilities at the College, 鈥渢he cupola was installed in January of 1914 for a total cost of $26.鈥� It is currently being restored at Watershed Construction鈥檚 facility in Berlin, Vermont, and will make a long-awaited return to the College campus in the fall of 2022.听听

The original plan was to restore the Cupola to Saint Michael鈥檚 in the same place that Founder鈥檚 Hall once stood. However, several Edmundites believed that the Cupola was too significant for that space. 鈥淭hey wanted a location that was more prominent,鈥� Ribout said, 鈥渟o the Cupola will likely be displayed in the main campus green space between Durick Library and the Chapel.鈥�

Early days.