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Tours

1. Ivy Neighborhood

   Ivy Neighborhood houses are some of the oldest houses on Smith’s campus, dating from as far back as 1878.

   Stops

   1. Baldwin House

      Baldwin is less than a five-minute walk to the center of campus and is seconds away from a Northampton pharmacy and grocery store. It’s just a two-minute walk to downtown Northampton.

      When Baldwin House was built at the turn of the century, on-campus housing was available to fewer than half of Smith’s students. This large brick, ivy-covered building on Bedford Terrace was constructed to permit 77 students to live in college housing.

      Visitors to Baldwin first notice its lovely front porch, perfect for lounging. On the first floor of Baldwin is a spacious living room and a comfortable foyer. The living room has a piano, a fireplace and cable television with a DVD player and Playstation games. A collection of old Smith yearbooks, Baldwin scrapbooks and books donated by former Baldwin residents fill the room’s bookcases.

   2. Albright House

      Albright House is located on Bedford Terrace, right next to the Alumnae House. It was built in 1900. Known for its pink porch light and much-coveted disco ball, Albright House luxuriously sits across from Chuckett Dining Hall and Hillyer, and just a two-block climb from downtown. Albright is home to over 70 residents, three washing machines, and the largest house library on campus. Favorite traditions are weekly themed tea, the annual fall trip to MacLeish field station, and a friendly rivalry with our neighbor, Baldwin. House mascots are Paul Walker, Greg Heffley, Tina the Fairy, and the platonic ideal of a peach.

   3. Duckett House

      Duckett is home to 37 students who boast that it has the best location of all Smith houses. It is only five minutes away from everything—classes, libraries, and downtown.

      Although Duckett is over 200 years old, it was not acquired by Smith until 1968. Throughout its history, however, it has been associated with the college. At the turn of the century, it was a boarding house for Smith students who lived off campus. Later it was owned by an alumna and used as part of a school for girls. The house is named for Eleanor Shipley Duckett, a former professor in the Department of Classical Languages and Literatures. Mary Ellen Chase, for whom Chase House is named, was Duckett's life-long companion, and so the names of these adjoining houses honor these outstanding women scholars and teachers. The house library holds several volumes of their published works.

      As for house social life, Duckett hosts several parties every academic year. One cocktail party takes place during winter weekend and another during spring weekend.

   4. Washburn House

      Washburn is near academic and administration buildings, libraries and the athletic complex. Downtown Northampton is a five-minute walk.

      Washburn House was built by Smith in 1878 to house the incoming class of 1882. One of the original three houses constructed to integrate a full academic experience for women, Washburn was named for William Barren Washburn, one of the first trustees of the college.

      Washburn House has evolved a great deal over its long history. From 1933 to 1938, it was a cooperative house, and residents performed all the household chores. During the Spanish Civil War (1936–39) it served as the Spanish-speaking house on campus, as it was not possible to send students to Spain for academic study.

      Past residents of Washburn have remained devoted to their college home and have returned to Smith to celebrate significant reunions. Former Washburn residents presented Washburn with a 400-book collection on the house’s 50th birthday.

   5. Hubbard House

       

       

      Hubbard is notable because it is one of the only houses on campus without a TV. And Hubbardites appreciate their proximity to academic buildings, which makes most classes only a dash away.

      Hubbard is one of the oldest houses on campus. It is unique in having its own anniversary reunions; in fall 1978 it celebrated its 100th anniversary. The daylong gala included a large gathering at the Ainsworth Gymnasium, a luncheon at the Alumnae House, an open house and a retrospective exhibition. Julia Child, a noted Hubbardite, was one of the attendees.

   6. Lee House

      Located next to Ford Hall, this house is comprised of all class years including Ada Comstock Scholars. The building has 13 single rooms with a shared living room and kitchen. Lee House is available to current sophomores, juniors, and seniors, with rare exceptions for first-year students.

      Formerly known as 54 Green Street, in May 2024 Lee House was named in honor of Carrie Lee, class of 1917. When she arrived at Smith, Lee, a Black first-year student, was denied on-campus housing and, instead, lived with a professor before being assigned a room in Albright House. She went on to become a teacher and an advocate for the rights of women and people of color. 

   7. Lawrence House

       

      Lawrence House, on Green Street, is conveniently located near the gymnasium, athletic fields, and scenic Paradise Pond as well as many classrooms, the administrative buildings and libraries.

      Lawrence House, and its sister, Morris House, were built in 1891 in response to the rapidly growing enrollment at Smith at the end of the 19th century. The two houses have the distinction of being the first on campus to be named for alumnae. Lawrence House is named for Elizabeth Crocker Lawrence, who graduated from Smith in 1883, received her master’s degree from Smith in 1889, and later served as a college trustee and president of the Alumnae Association. Each year on November 11, residents of Lawrence House still celebrate “Tippy” Lawrence’s birthday.

      The history of Lawrence House is also unique in that it was chosen in 1912 for an experiment in cooperative self-help, in which residents of the house performed all the household chores. This experiment, which was a great success, received widespread attention from the press, which was intrigued with the idea that students generally perceived as being daughters of the rich were doing household chores.

   8. Morris House

      A charming, ivy-covered brick house that has a piano, a pool table and a large front porch complete with an old-fashioned swing.

      Morris House, and its sister, Lawrence House, were built in 1891 in response to the rapidly growing enrollment at Smith at the end of the 19th century. The two houses have the distinction of being the first on campus to be named for alumnae. Morris House is named for Kate Morris, one of the first 11 graduates of Smith, who later went on to receive the first doctorate awarded by Smith in 1889.

      Morris House, on Green Street, is conveniently located near the gymnasium, athletic fields and scenic Paradise Pond, as well as the central campus area.

   9. Tyler House

      Located on Green Street, Tyler House is near the music building, gym and athletics fields. The Paradise Pond waterfall is audible through an open window.

      Built in 1898, Tyler House was the last of six dormitories constructed in the very early years of Smith College on what was the original campus. An impressive Queen Anne–style brick building with a large front porch, Tyler House was named for William Seymour Tyler, one of the original trustees of the college.

      A favorite gathering place is the comfortable living room where parties are held and where residents have a chance to relax and watch television or socialize. For more serious pursuits, the house has a library.

   10. Chapin House

       Chapin occupies what has been called the geographic center of the campus. This central location makes Chapin only a short walk from most academic buildings and a neighbor to the Campus Center.

       Chapin overlooks the gardens of the Lyman Plant House, the playing fields and Paradise Pond, hence the house motto, “Living on the Edge of Paradise.” Chapin lawn is the site of frisbee and other activities or a place to throw down a blanket and enjoy the sun or cool off in the shade. Residents often sit and chat on the huge porch overlooking Chapin lawn.

       Chapin’s staircase may have served as the inspiration for the staircase of Scarlett O’Hara’s "Tara" plantation in the controversial novel Gone With the Wind, since the book’s author, Margaret Mitchell, once lived at Chapin.