Then and Now - The First Washington College
In 1788 construction was far enough along that the first official building of Washington College could be opened.
Subscribers had raised money and an elaborate cornerstone laying had taken place with the Governor of Maryland, William Paca in attendance. This building, an artist’s rendering shown here, stood on the hill above Chestertown dominating the landscape until the night of January 10th, 1827, when between the hours of seven and eight pm the building burned to the ground. William Smith Hall became the new center of campus with the Hill dorms taking the site of the original building.
An archeological dig was done in the area to find out more about the first building on campus and a model of what it looked like is on display in the foyer of Bunting Hall.