Library ↔ Business ↔ Administration Annex
1992 site plans for the construction of the new addition to the Library. Image cropped and emphasis added for effect: yellow highlight indicates tunnels assumed to still remain; red highlight indicates portion which was demolished and/or sealed.
(Library, 1992) |
1969 site plans for the renovation of the business building. Image cropped and emphasis added for effect: yellow highlight indicates tunnels assumed to still remain; red highlight indicates portion which was demolished and/or sealed. The leftmost portion shown extends to the Library.
(Business Reno, 1969) |
The current portion of this tunnel begins at the northern terminus of the Agriculture ↔ Library section, follows the north library sidewalk, angles northwest at the library's entrance, angles slightly left at an in-ground access point before crossing what was formerly Cooley Drive, turns left at the eastern edge of the Business building, and ends in front of the Administration Annex (Utilities Map, 2018). Historically, this tunnel followed its current diagonal path from the library's entrance, under the library, joining with the Agriculture ↔ Library tunnel at the library's southeast corner (Library, 1992). There is a hatch at the southeast corner of the library which may be placed at the junction of the old section. During his exploration, Rice (n.d.) encountered a pipe, about 4 feet in diameter and hot to the touch, in the middle of this portion, probably near the entrance to the library in the old portion of the tunnel.
Judging from all available materials, the previous section under the library was most likely sealed, filled in, and/or demolished in the period leading up to President Bill Clinton's visit to dedicate the Library's tower on April 3rd, 1995. It is not known when the replacement portion, running from the in-use portion of Agriculture ↔ Library under the north sidewalk and towards the diagonal section towards the business building, was constructed. This assumes that this portion of tunnel did not exist before then; it is possible that the tunnel existed previously, but was not documented on blueprints.
Going northwest, this tunnel makes a slight turn westward at an in-ground access point before crossing Cooley Drive. Rice (n.d.) describes this portion:
According to the 1969 renovation documents of the Business building, the interior access point at the sharp turn was sealed (Business Reno, 1969). Campus Map (1997) refers to the current Administration Annex as “Telecommunications,” supporting Rice’s details.
Judging from all available materials, the previous section under the library was most likely sealed, filled in, and/or demolished in the period leading up to President Bill Clinton's visit to dedicate the Library's tower on April 3rd, 1995. It is not known when the replacement portion, running from the in-use portion of Agriculture ↔ Library under the north sidewalk and towards the diagonal section towards the business building, was constructed. This assumes that this portion of tunnel did not exist before then; it is possible that the tunnel existed previously, but was not documented on blueprints.
Going northwest, this tunnel makes a slight turn westward at an in-ground access point before crossing Cooley Drive. Rice (n.d.) describes this portion:
- Once across the street, it makes a sharp angled turn back south along the side walk and ends at a point which is where the old field house used to stand. This gymnaseum eventually housed the telecommunications offices where the telephone and campus cable tv system were operated from, but was later torn down. I recall that there was a hatch in the tunnel ceiling below one of the technical rooms of the telecom office. Standing below you could hear the phone equipment switching calls. The hatch was a double wooden door, and a crack allowed light, air and sound through. You could also hear the campus operator giving directory information at the switchboard from there. This is usually how most tunnelers were caught. The switchboard operator would hear them laughing down below and call the campus police
According to the 1969 renovation documents of the Business building, the interior access point at the sharp turn was sealed (Business Reno, 1969). Campus Map (1997) refers to the current Administration Annex as “Telecommunications,” supporting Rice’s details.