Yale University's Marsh Hall

Looking much as it did when Othneil Marsh owned the redstone mansion, Marsh Hall has a long and venerable history as home to the renowned paleontologist, then the headquarters of Yale's pioneering School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.

NEW HAVEN, CONN. -- In 1899, on the death of famed paleontologist Othneil Charles Marsh, Yale University acquired Marsh's fine, redstone mansion at 360 Prospect Street here. A graduate of the (then) Yale College and Scientific School, Marsh had been appointed to Yale's chair of paleontology in 1866 which was the first such appointment made in this country. He had continued to hold that position, as well as that of vertebrate paleontologist to the U.S. Geological Survey, until his death.

An anecdotal account of Marsh's life indicates that, as a young man, he became engaged to a girl whose family sent her to a European finishing school prior to their marriage. There she met, and fell in love with, another man whom she then married.

Perhaps as a result, Marsh lived as a wealthy bachelor for the rest of his life, in the mansion he had had designed and built to receive his prospective wife.

When Yale acquired the building, it became designated "Marsh Hall" appropriately, and subsequently became the first home of the pioneering Yale School of Forestry. The longest continuously operating academic forestry program in the United States, Yale's was both founded and funded initially by Clifford Pinchot, first head of the U.S. Forest Service under President Theodore Roosevelt.

From 1900 until 1926, Marsh Hall was the headquarters of the forestry program under its first dean, Henry Graves. Today, Dr Jane Coppack, assistant dean of the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, recalls that classes were held at Marsh Hall, the forestry offices were there, and some students even lived in the building.

Though not the only building occupied by the YSF&ES today, Marsh Hall still plays an important role in the school's functions, providing lecture, laboratory, reference and office space.

Also, because it has been designated an official New Haven Landmark building since 1966, Marsh Hall has been deemed worthy of careful preservation according to the standards of the University and the New Haven Preservation Trust.

Among the other efforts necessary to the continued useful life of Marsh Hall was the recent renovation and restoration of its window. Dr Coppack recalls they had become leaky and drafty, making the building difficult to use and to heat during the wintertime.

Yet the various preservationist organizations involved, as well Yale University, wanted to maintain the historic appearance and integrity of Marsh Hall. This meant not replacing the windows with modern, more efficient units, but instead finding ways to enhance the utility of the existing system.

Enter Bi-Glass and its president, Richard M. Fritzer. A lifelong resident of Connecticut, Fritzer felt an important commitment to maintaining Marsh Hall's historic status, yet improving its utility.

The Bi-Glass system has been designed and engineered for use in preserving historic buildings. The original window frameworks are retained, as are the sashes.

Once the old frames have been removed, repaired as necessary, and replaced with new insulation and caulking, original latches and hardware are cleaned, repaired and reinstalled. At the same time, a double glazing of insulated thermal glass replaces the old single panes, providing efficient thermal protection and eliminating costly leaks and drafts.

The system was carefully reviewed by the University and the Marsh Hall project manager, architect Ron Zachs, and found suitable for this historic structure.

Fritzer recalls that the Marsh Hall effort, "like every project, had its special challenges." Among them was the protection and insulation of stained glass portions of the existing windows.

Once the turned-lead elements (sometimes referred to as "cames") holding the sections of colored glass, have begun to loosen, the only prior method of preserving any thermal integrity has been to remove that glass, restore or repair the turned-leads, and then reassemble the design. it is a process that is costly, difficult and time-consuming.

Instead, Fritzer recalls that architect Zachs came up with an idea that would protect the stained glass sections and create an airtight seal.

A clear glass insert was carefully engineered, cut and fitted to seal the openings from inside. Once placed and sealed, the inserts became virtually invisible against the more compelling design of the stained glass element.

Today, Fritzer and Dr Coppack frequently consult with Ron Zachs on the continued performance of the Bi-Glass system at Marsh Hall. Minor adjustments and repairs usually preclude any major deterioration of the nearly 100-year-old historic windows.

Yale University officials feel the continued preservation of Marsh Hall is very much in keeping with its prestige, not only as the home of the School of Forestry, but also as a tribute to Othneil Marsh. "`Neil Marsh and his fellow paleontologists," Dr Jane Coppack recalls, "must be credited with giving the collection and preservation of vertebrate fossils a truly scientific basis. Because of his influence," she continues, "our museums today present complete skeletal assemblages for the study of fossils."