Princeton College, Princeton, New Jersey, USA

Burned 1944

During WWII the old gymnasium at Princeton burned to the ground destroying the amazing murals by William Yarrow and melting all the trophies. Joanne C.

The Princeton Gymnasium was a Gothic Revival building that served as a gymnasium for Princeton College. During World War II it had been requisitioned and was providing lodging for 20,000 servicemen when caught fire in 1944 and was totally destroyed, along with a collection of athletic memorabilia, books and murals. It was replaced by the Dillon Gym, which incorporates parts of the old building’s smoke-blackened walls. The painting is based on an old uncredited black-and-white photograph.