Our series examining an Image of the Week from the photographic files, by Kevin Warstadt, Digital Program Specialist.
This image of the week comes from a folder titled “Watering Trough.” The Hanover trough once sat on the Green across from the Balch Mansion. The Balch Mansion was destroyed in a fire in 1900, after which time the college bought the property and built College Hall (now the Collis Center) upon it. College Hall can be seen in the background of the above image.
The trough had two tiers, one for horses and one for dogs. However, it wasn’t just used for hydration. It was also an important part of a Dartmouth tradition. A dunking in the trough was the punishment for unknowing freshmen who had the misfortune of coming in contact with the senior fence.
The trough was removed from the Green in 1961. It has been re-purposed as a planter that now sits in front of Webster Cottage.
See more photos of the Hanover watering trough in the Dartmouth Photographic files.
Sources
dartgo.org/earlydartmouth_frankbarrett