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Marsh Plaza, built in 1949, was revealing the
ravages of frost, shoveling, and snowplowing when
the photo on the left was taken in 1994, as
concrete was spread to replace damaged slate tiles.
Marsh Plaza "certainly bears the scars of time,"
said President Jon Westling at last May's
President's Breakfast."Temporary patches have been
themselves patched and mortared and patched again."
However, the true restoration of the plaza began
May 25, with a rededication planned for Homecoming
Weekend in October on the 50th anniversary of the
first dedication. The most recent photo shows a
project well along the way toward completion: in
the foreground are granite bollards that will
prevent vehicles from driving on the plaza. Already
laid down are a new reinforced concrete base and
4,450 granite paving blocks. Yet to come are a
brick sidewalk, new landscaping, a restored BU coat
of arms, and a restored base for the Free at Last
sculpture. Fundraising for the $1.5 million
project, led by Boston University Alumni, has been
a grassroots effort involving BU students, faculty,
staff, and graduates. For information, see the Web
site at
www.bu.edu/marshplaza.
Current photo by Vernon
Doucette; 1994 photo by Michael B.
Shavelson
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