BINGHAM SCHOOL BARRACKS / DORMITORIES

The barracks/dormitories were built in mid-1882 [1]. T.C. Oakley of Durham was the contractor [2]. They replaced several log structures that had been used as dorms and classrooms [3].

They were described as "carefully constructed by Mrs. Wm. Bingham, at great cost, and were expressly designed for safety, comfort, health, free ventilation, lighting, heating, and freedom from dampness" [4].

A 1905 description of them is "The dormitories are in eight sections, with six rooms to each section.Three of these sections are on the east side and three on the west of a rectangular court, of which the main school building forms the north side" [5].

Each section of was described as "one story high and one room deep, metal-roofed and having fire-proof brick walls at each end...with brick foundation pillars two feet above ground." Each room measured 16 feet by 16 feet "with door opening on the veranda, transom above, window opposite, and open fire-place..." [6. Each room was "furnished with new iron beds and springs, mattresses, table, wash-stand and book rack" [7].

The court between the barracks was described as "336 feet long and more than 104 feet broad, divided by gravel walks into plats of smooth green glass, and well shaded by poplar and maple trees" [8].

Remnants of the barracks can be viewed in the 1955 aerial photograph of the area, but they have since been demolished and/or fallen down from neglect.

View north, circa 1905

View north, circa 1908 postcard

Exercising adjacent to the barracks, circa 1909

View north east, circa 1905

ENDNOTES:

[1] The Alamance Gleaner, Jun 22, 1882 (via Phil Mace)

[2] Ibid

[3] Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, North Carolina. Department of Public Instruction, 1898. 157

BINGHAM SCHOOL BARRACKS / DORMITORIES