Myles Standish Hall
Encyclopedia
Myles Standish Hall is a Boston University
dormitory located at 610 Beacon Street, in Kenmore Square
. Originally constructed in 1925 and opened as the Myles Standish Hotel, it was deemed to be one of the finest hotels in the world. In 1949 BU acquired the building and converted it into a dormitory.
. It was one of many such hotels, including the Sheraton located just down the street at 91 Bay State Road, which would itself be later purchased by BU and converted into a dormitory.
Due to its proximity to Fenway Park
the hotel was often patronized by visiting baseball clubs. Babe Ruth
himself stayed there often, and liked suite 818 so much that he made it a habit to request it specifically.
In 1933 Charles Newton took over as manager and rescued it from the Great Depression, turning it into a fashionable apartment hotel. He left in 1943 when the hotel was sold to the Sheraton Corporation and in 1949 the building was sold to Boston University.
troops making use of their G.I. Bill entitlements, was in desperate need of housing for students, and quickly converted the facility to dormitory use for its male students.
In 1970 Myles made BU history by becoming the first dorm to permit guests of any gender 24 hours a day.
In the summer of 1973, Myles was "condemned" due to structural problems. BU obtained alternate dormitory space that year at Fensgate Hall down Beacon St., with dining across the street at Charlesgate Hall. Myles reopened for the 1974-75 academic year.
In 1979, with the bankruptcy of Grahm Junior College
, the University purchased the school’s administration building adjacent to Myles. This building had several uses before being permanently converted into dormitory space and annexed to Myles, giving birth to what is now known as Myles Annex
.
The shape of the building is somewhat unique. Due to the irregular proportions of the plot of land on which it was built at the intersection of Bay State Road and Beacon Street, the building is known for its sharp point resembling the prow
of a ship. This makes for unusual floor plans.
The eight residential levels house 666 residents in a coeducational setting and are essentially identical, with rooms arrayed in a suite-style setting. Most suites are composed of two singles adjoined with a double-occupancy room in the middle, with the bathroom accessible only through the double room. Exceptions to this occur near the “point” of the building’s shape, where rooms are more spacious and are occupied by more residents.
Myles’ seventh floor is a designated specialty floor for students of the College of Engineering.
Due to the relatively large size of each individual floor, two resident assistants staff each floor.
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
dormitory located at 610 Beacon Street, in Kenmore Square
Kenmore Square
Kenmore Square is a square in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, consisting of the intersection of several main avenues as well as several other cross streets, and Kenmore Station, an MBTA subway stop. Kenmore Square is close to or abuts Boston University, Fenway Park, and Lansdowne Street, a...
. Originally constructed in 1925 and opened as the Myles Standish Hotel, it was deemed to be one of the finest hotels in the world. In 1949 BU acquired the building and converted it into a dormitory.
The Hotel Years
When the doors to the hotel opened in 1928, it offered many amenities and was situated in a prime location in the developing Back Bay neighborhood in Boston next to the Kenmore Square trolley stationKenmore (MBTA station)
Kenmore is an MBTA light rail station in the Kenmore Square area of Boston, Massachusetts, and serves the Green Line B, C, and D branches...
. It was one of many such hotels, including the Sheraton located just down the street at 91 Bay State Road, which would itself be later purchased by BU and converted into a dormitory.
Due to its proximity to Fenway Park
Fenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"...
the hotel was often patronized by visiting baseball clubs. Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
himself stayed there often, and liked suite 818 so much that he made it a habit to request it specifically.
In 1933 Charles Newton took over as manager and rescued it from the Great Depression, turning it into a fashionable apartment hotel. He left in 1943 when the hotel was sold to the Sheraton Corporation and in 1949 the building was sold to Boston University.
Becoming a Dormitory
The University, experiencing heavy growth due to returning World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
troops making use of their G.I. Bill entitlements, was in desperate need of housing for students, and quickly converted the facility to dormitory use for its male students.
In 1970 Myles made BU history by becoming the first dorm to permit guests of any gender 24 hours a day.
In the summer of 1973, Myles was "condemned" due to structural problems. BU obtained alternate dormitory space that year at Fensgate Hall down Beacon St., with dining across the street at Charlesgate Hall. Myles reopened for the 1974-75 academic year.
In 1979, with the bankruptcy of Grahm Junior College
Grahm Junior College
Grahm Junior College was a private junior college located in Boston, Massachusetts. The school opened in 1957 under the name Cambridge School of Business, as part of a chain of schools. Other branches were later based in Chicago and Philadelphia...
, the University purchased the school’s administration building adjacent to Myles. This building had several uses before being permanently converted into dormitory space and annexed to Myles, giving birth to what is now known as Myles Annex
Myles Annex
Myles Annex is a small Boston University coeducational dormitory, which is located in Kenmore Square at 632 Beacon Street. The building is generally considered part of the larger Myles Standish Hall to which it is adjacent . Access is obtained by entering Myles Standish Hall and passing through a...
.
Layout
Myles is a nine floor building. The first floor houses the building’s dining hall, mailroom, and computer lab. The remaining eight floors are residential; in the basement are laundry facilities.The shape of the building is somewhat unique. Due to the irregular proportions of the plot of land on which it was built at the intersection of Bay State Road and Beacon Street, the building is known for its sharp point resembling the prow
Prow
thumb|right|295pxThe prow is the forward most part of a ship's bow that cuts through the water. The prow is the part of the bow above the waterline. The terms prow and bow are often used interchangeably to describe the most forward part of a ship and its surrounding parts...
of a ship. This makes for unusual floor plans.
The eight residential levels house 666 residents in a coeducational setting and are essentially identical, with rooms arrayed in a suite-style setting. Most suites are composed of two singles adjoined with a double-occupancy room in the middle, with the bathroom accessible only through the double room. Exceptions to this occur near the “point” of the building’s shape, where rooms are more spacious and are occupied by more residents.
Myles’ seventh floor is a designated specialty floor for students of the College of Engineering.
Security
As with all large residence halls at BU, access is by presenting student identification. Non-residents must be signed in and are restricted in the duration of their stay and the times at which they are permitted to enter and leave.Due to the relatively large size of each individual floor, two resident assistants staff each floor.