Pump Design Approval Hits Snag in Commission

Amid unexpected controversy, the Cambridge Historical Commission yesterday postponed approving the reconstruction of the pump in Harvard Yard.

The remodeling effort was initiated by Radcliffe College as a gift to Harvard University in honor of its 350th anniversary.

About 10 people came to the commission's meeting last night to protest the Radcliffe renovation, which would place the pump on a blue stone pedestal surrounded by a semi-circular granite base.

"Harvard Yard is becoming, by separate and unrelated acts, a sampler of different paving materials," said Cambridge resident Robert Campbell, who was at the meeting to protest the design.

With other members of the audience supporting the new design, the Cambridge Historical Commission could not reach a decision concerning the pump plans.

After an hour of debate, a member of the commission suggested that the plans and decision be suspended until the architectural committee could help revise them. The commission decided to make a decision in 30 days.

The pump dates from 1936 and replaced an earlier version which commemorated the pump from which students had to draw their water in the 18th century. Popular legend has it that the pump's immediate predecessor was blown up by students.

Defenders of the remodeling program said the Yard would look nicer if Radcliffe had its way.

Matina S. Horner, president of Radcliffe, said that she knew about theconflict but expected the commission to approvethe plans.

"At which moment does one freeze history?"asked Horner, who did not attend the meeting.

"The Yard is dark and dingy. It needs color andenrichment," said John Furlong, the director ofthe Radcliffe Seminar program on the history oflandscape design.

But opponents said that the new design wouldruin the Yard's attractions.

"The existing Yard has no internal geometry,"said Esther Pallman, president of the CambridgePlant and Garden Society and a student in theRadcliffe Seminar Program on landscape design.

"To redesign the pump and surrounding area,there is an intrusion of the geometric elementthat is inappropriate. It is an intrusion of a newmaterial that is inappropriate, and it seems thatfocus on the pump itself is inappropriate," saidPallman, a Yale graduate.

The redesign proposal was submitted to thecommission for approval and to receive ademolition permit, since the pump is within theOld Cambridge Square District.

Pallman and five other members of the CambridgePlant and Garden Society protested thereconstruction, saying that "to take an objectthat is real and to put it on a pedestal is totake the reality of an object out of its contextand to make it an artifact. That alone takes awaythe quality of the object." Pallman asked: "Isthat really how Radcliffe wants its gift toHarvard to be remembered?"

Harvard sent a representative to the meetingwho presented the commission with a letterrequesting approval.

Jacqueline Dailey '73 said, "Why change theYard at all? It has sacred and austere beauty, asample of natural quality."

Frances Webb '60, secretary of the RadcliffeAlumnae Association and a member of the Plant andGarden Society agreed that, "the Yard is a spacethat uplifts the spirit and involes a sense ofwhat is Harvard. It needs no embellishment, butsimplicity. We should emphasize restraint."

Another public hearing will be held in Decemberto discuss a another Radcliffe pump design