Changing Administration

The administration building at Belchertown State School is the second most architecturally interesting building on campus. As strange as it sounds, after reading Ben Ricci's book Crimes Against Humanity I actually took the book with me and reread his description of his first walk up those stairs to admit his son Robert to Belchertown. The red metal door that is now at the top of the stairs was added when the building was closed down. The original doors that, judging by the door frame, must have been double wooden doors were most likely removed but the double doors inside still remain and lead up a second set of stairs to a large expanse of glass and counter that would have once been the reception area. To the left is a smaller office behind a more modern glass wall with a round opening and a small slot for sliding paperwork through. Behind the glass is a giant, ancient looking switchboard, an old rotary phone, and shreds of yellowed paperwork. All in all, the feeling created in that first glance is one of overwhelming imposition.