As an era in campus dining ends, and a new one begins in the Powerhouse, we look back at dining halls of the past and check out the new Hamiltons.
The campus dining hall has entered a new era. On the first morning of the spring semester, Hamiltons Café in the Powerhouse reopened after an extensive renovation as the main campus dining hall. Previously serving only beverages, grab-and-go items, and a small lunch menu, Hamiltons has expanded and is now open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner on weekdays and weekends.
As we bid farewell to Commons and say hello to Hamiltons, we look back at dining halls of the past, while anticipating the memories students will make in Hamiltons in years to come.
Hamiltons, Now
Credit: Nicholas Mischler ’14
Credit: Nicholas Mischler ’14
First customer. Ryan Ulmen ’28, the first student to arrive for breakfast on the opening day of Hamiltons, was greeted by Ellie Anderbyrne ’05, the college's chief of staff and Dan Schooff, former vice president for facilities — and with balloons. Credit: Ellie Anderbyrne ’05
Slay, Hamiltons. Archivist Emeritus Fred Burwell ’86 introduced campus to Hamiltons in a viral video, throwing in some Gen-Z slang for good measure. Credit: Mariella Trevino
New names for the new location? Hamil-Commons and Commiltons, or simply Commons are nicknames being used by students for the new dining hall in Hamiltons, pictured here on an admitted students day. Credit: Ellie Anderbyrne ’05
Dining Halls, Then
Photos from the Beloit College Archives.
No coeds allowed. Decades after the college went co-educational in the 1890s, men still often ate separately from women. Two men's dining rooms were located in old Chapin Hall, a dormitory next to the current Campbell Hall, which was built out as an annex (pictured here in the 1930s). The newer Chapin dining hall was the first central dining hall, although fraternities still frequently ate in their own kitchens.
Dining etiquette. Strict dining rules remained in place into the early 1960s. Meals were served family style with servers and glassware. Students received handbooks with rules concerning proper etiquette and dress. Slacks, shorts, and sweatshirts were only allowed at breakfast and lunch. Grace was said before dinner, and women were required to wear skirts, hose, and heels at Sunday brunch. Singing was allowed between courses, and even encouraged; talking during songs was not allowed.
Flower power. Along with the Beloit Plan, a more casual dining atmosphere emerged in the mid- to late-sixties.
Get in line. An open buffet line in the 1980s.
Taco Tuesday. Students opt for tater tots and Mexican fare at the Chapin Commons in the mid-1980s.
Jungle boogie. The decor in Commons changed over the decades, including this African animal-themed mural from the 1990s.
