FITCHBURG YOUR STORY: What's in a Name? - Erisbel Alicea

In this episode, Erisbel Alicea, reflects on the names behind the buildings on Fitchburg State's campus, diving most deeply into the accomplishments of the namesake of the most central building on campus:  Mr. James J. Hammond.

Erisbel is a junior Criminal Justice major, participating in the 4+1 police program.

Episodes in this series were produced and edited by the Fitchburg State University students in Professor Kisha Tracy's Storytelling and the Oral Tradition course (ENGL 2890) in the Spring 2025 semester.  

"Saxifrage"  is the Fitchburg Your Story theme music.  Music by Prof. Robin Dinda, Text by Prof. DeMisty Bellinger-Delfeld.  Performed by Fitchburg State University Choirs with Alanna Rantala (piano) and Prof. Jonathan Harvey (conductor).

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Episode transcript here.

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Additional mixing and mastering by members of the Perseverantia staff.

Click here to learn more about Perseverantia. Join us for programming updates on Instagram. Or reach out with ideas or suggestions at podcasts@fitchburgstate.edu.

Transcript

[ “Saxifrage” choral music plays, performed by the Fitchburg State University Choirs ] 

Prof. Kisha Tracy (intro): Welcome to the Fitchburg State University Perseverantia Podcast network. This is the Fitchburg Your Story series in which Fitchburg State students tell the stories that make our city and university unique.

[ “Saxifrage” fades out ] 

[ moody, plucky guitar riff theme plays over the transition ]

Erisbel Alicea: Hey guys, my name is Erisbel and I'm the host for this podcast. Have you ever wondered how something got its name or who is that person?

Then I'm excited to say that you have come to the right podcast.

For all of you who have connections to Fitchburg State University or are even Fitchburg residents, then this podcast will surely have more of an impact on you. 

Now, if you've ever been to the Fitchburg State University area, then surely you have come across the huge building with the name Hammond Hall plastered across the front of the building. Well, that then my friend, is well, Hammond Hall. [ laughs ] 

Sorry, sorry, I was just trying to make a joke. 

But anyways, this building will be the topic for this podcast along with some other important names, if you will. Are you excited? I'm excited. 

So grab some snacks, grab a drink, or for those of you on the road, keep your eyes on the road. We are now going to learn about Hammond Hall. 

Hammond was named after a man called James J. Hammond. Mr. James J. Hammond enrolled into Fitchburg Normal School in the year 1929, after some encouragement from his sister. 

In school, he was seen as a leader; in his senior year, he became class president. He graduated Fitchburg Normal School in the year 1933 and after became a teacher in industrial arts. He was later moved back to campus by President Herlihy and Mr. Willis Anthony. Don't these names sound familiar? 

Anyway, they wanted him to teach in the general shops program. In 1947, he then became the chairman of industrial arts after Mr. Willis Anthony retired. After this, Mr. Hammond had a lot of work. With helping implement new shops and co-authoring on woodworking, he was then known as Mr. IA, as in Mr. Industrial Arts. 

Mr. James J. Hammond is then named as the president of the college. Yes, college. The title had changed sometime during his time. But yes, anyways, he became the president after Ralph F. Weston.

Oh, would you look at that, another familiar name. To those of you know, then you know. 

Moving on, another key name of the college will be known: Aubuchon. A man named William F. Aubuchon Jr. was a trustee for the college back then. He oversaw the capital areas and budget areas of college. He and Mr. Hammond had both wanted to help the school further and work well with one another.

Being a busy bee, Mr. Hammond made plans to build a new school environment for elementary students and junior high school students. These plans were once ones that the past president, Weston, had wanted. Mr. Hammond thought this was a good idea, especially for teacher education, which had once been in the forefront of the school. 

During Mr. Hammond's time as the school's president, many ideas and buildings remained, such as an all-girls dormitory which was later named Aubuchon, a library expansion, a dining hall, and the McKay School, which included lecture halls and the use of media, and also the Conlon Fine Arts and Industrial Arts Building. 

Even though Mr. Hammond valued teacher education during his time as the president and acting president, new programs have been implemented into this college. These being computer science, human services, communications media, business administration, industrial science, and nursing.

Well, that is all, folks. 

I'm not sure if you'll noticed even though my hinting, but each building mentioned had been someone who contributed to the school. From doing this research, something that I learned was that typically schools would name important areas or even buildings after someone who has donated to the school or someone who contributed to the school, by other means. 

I like to note the information I got down was by a book called A Record of Leadership by Francis X. Gideon, which you can find in our archives – 

[ moody, plucky guitar riff theme plays over the remainder of the narration ]

– and a website titled What's in a Name.

I encourage all of you to try to find the art in everything and the history behind it. 

Thank you!

[ moody, plucky guitar riff theme concludes with a plunk ]

[ Perseverantia Network theme fades in ] 

Caitlin Moriarty: You’re listening to Perseverantia, the Fitchburg State Podcast Network.

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