My dorm is exactly 102 years old. First occupied in 1923, Henry Hall has been standing on campus since just after WWI. I can’t lie. I’ve always wanted to live in the old dorms. Contrary to popular opinion, I prefer the old rooms with wood floors, paned windows, no AC and the cast iron radiators that make noise at night. It’s quaint, but it’s filled with history.
My dorm is nothing short of the quintessential old college dorm one would imagine. This image is Henry Hall from the 1920's. The outside of my dorm hasn't changed much. When you enter my dorm, it's small with a slanted ceiling, giving the space a cozy attic feel. The slanted roof opens up to three beautifully panned windows that face Henry courtyard. My favorite part of the day is in the early morning when the sun shines through these windows, leaving a beautiful pattern on my walls. I remember in the beginning of the year, I would often sit in bed while drinking my coffee - just looking through my windows as I slowly woke up. I’d look out to see the giant tree which fills Henry Courtyard. I’ve lived here long enough to notice a neighbor; a squirrel who always sits on a branch near my window, eating acorns.
In the evenings, my room is just as beautiful - glowing with warm light from various lamps. I’m usually sitting at my desk, nestled into the corner with the slanted roof, where I study. At night, the rooms across the courtyard light up, and if looking close enough, I can see movement in the rooms across from me.
While I love my room because of its old charm, I also love it because of its history. It's safe to assume that around 100 Princeton students have lived in this exact room - which is pretty crazy to think about. There’s also a mysterious engraving on my window. Carved into the glass is the name “Mayersky”. Lots of Princeton’s older dorms have engraving in window sills or fireplaces, and so I was excited to find this hidden gem. After a quick search on Tigerbook and Tigernet (Princeton’s undergraduate and alumni directory), I found no matching results. . . leading me to believe a student from abroad or from one of Princeton’s summer camps made this engraving. I have no idea how old the carving is, but I will likely follow suit in some small way when I eventually leave this room.
I absolutely adore my dorm. While it will be painful to move out, I’m grateful to still have my senior year to live in these beautifully-old dorms. And leaving Princeton, I know without a doubt these 100 year old rooms will be remembered for many more than over 100 years.