Williams College's Log Reopens After $4.5M Renovation
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Williams College students and alumni can breath a sigh of relief: The character of The Log has been preserved.
Following nine months of extensive renovations, college's favorite gathering place at 78 Spring St. reopened on Nov. 4.
Built in 1941 by Kenneth Reynolds, class of 1916, and donated to the college as an Alumni House, the Log holds many fond memories for Ephs.
"Our goal was to have it look and feel like the old Log, " said local contractor Albert Cummings, who managed the renovation project.
Original wood floors were refinished. Old tabletops, on which past students had carved their names or initials, were salvaged and put to use in West College and the Dodge Rooms
The bar is new, but in a nod to the past, a rough-hewn beam from West College serves as its foot rail.
Memorabilia, such as portraits, plaques and pictures, were boxed before remodeling began.
"Working from photographs, we put it back in spaces it had occupied (in the old Log)," Cummings said.
On the exterior of the building, weathered white clapboard was removed, insulation added and then new white clapboard was installed.
Cummings said when they opened the exterior of the nearly 75-year-old building, they realized there was an another house in that structure.
"Judging by materials and products we found, I think it was an 1800s house," he said.
According to information provided by the Williamstown Historical Museum, the original house was initially a private residence and later served as a tea room.
Funded by alumni gifts, the $4.5 million renovation project included installing a new standing seam metal roof. A solar roof array on it will generate approximately 25 percent of the facility's electricity needs.
The hours of operation for the Log are 3 p.m. to midnight Monday through Friday, noon to 2 a.m. Saturday and noon to 11 p.m. on Sunday.The Log is open to the public nightly for dinner and for lunch on weekends
A Williams College sophomore was recently sitting at the new bar, eating as he watched a football game on the big screen television above the bar. "The hamburgers are very good," he said.
Williams selected the management team of Hops& Vines Beer Garden and Brassiere, located on Water Street, to operate The Log's food and beverage service.
"Our menu is tailored to be friendly and enticing," said Michelle Forth, manager of The Log.
In addition to single portions of such popular fare as hamburgers, pizza, mini-chili cheese dogs, wings and macaroni and cheese, it also offers family-style meals for two or three people to share at prices ranging from $17 to $24. Students receive a 30 percent discount on food.
The beverage menu includes mocktails, wine and beer, but hard liquor is not available.
"The students with whom I've been consulting on The Log restoration over the past couple of years have all been focused on making it a space where all four years of student can gather regardless of age, a place where students who can drink legally do so responsibly and where those who can't drink or don't want to drink are comfortable as well," said Stephen Klass, Williams' vice president for campus life. "It was all about creating a low-key space for conversation, for hearing their fellow students perform, and for enjoying each other's company."
The Log will host a variety of events featuring live music, choral performances and poetry readings. Trivia nights weekly on Tuesday will be challenging as well as fun.
When asked if The Log would be made available for private parties, Klass replied, "The Log is a college facility with a primarily student focus ... I understand that business tapered off following the change in Massachusetts' drinking age ... It was closed as a regular business and then became a space that could be reserved for private use.
"Since we are now operating The Log on a regular schedule, we are not allowing it to be closed for private parties or other events. We will take reservations for parties of 10 or more as long as the host recognizes that they'll be sharing space with other diners and with that evening's entertainment or planned activities."
As for alcohol enforcement, Forth, a TIPs (Training for Intervention Procedures) trainer, diligently trains the staff on the importance of serving alcohol so people do not get intoxicated.
"Older adults can do that, too," she said. "The focus at The Log is underage drinking. We bracelet students over age 21 who can be served alcoholic beverages.
"Feedback from students and the public has been overwhelmingly supportive of the new Log."
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An alumnus from Boston who came to Williamstown to enjoy Homecoming Weekend this month admitted to being "jealous" of current students because of the status of the new Log
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And typical notations in a memory book in Hyde's Corner of The Log read, "It's wonderful," "I love it," "Friends made here are friends forever."
Tags: bars, taverns, spring street, Williams College,
