Walking through the bustling second-floor “Street” inspires a particular set of thoughts: What work do I need to get done today? What lunch do I have? How did I do on that test?
But often we don’t think about the neglected furniture we walk past. Imagine if you weren’t conditioned to seeing the furniture, though. What does a family walking by on a tour think?
A deeper examination of our second-floor furniture begs the question: is this up to Haverford’s standards?
Unlike Haverford’s other well-maintained spaces, Wilson Hall’s second-floor furniture stands out to many as dilapidated. The lively and crowded second-floor street is a central element of student life — something students, teachers, and guests are all exposed to. Over the past few years, this important part of our community has fallen into a state of sloppiness.
Two history classrooms directly border the “Street.”
“[The furniture is] seeming to look a little well-loved… A little, perhaps, rough around the edges as time goes on.”
Mr. Timothy lengel
U.S. History teacher Mr. Timothy Lengel said, “Now that you mention it, [the furniture is] seeming to look a little well-loved, shall we say. A little, perhaps, rough around the edges as time goes on… It’s people climbing over the back of the couch to be with their buddy. Perfectly understandable stuff, but that adds up over several years.”
The school purchased the furniture around eight years ago under the former Upper School Head Mr. Matt Green. Over the years, the slow but steady decay of the furniture has made the current condition more difficult to notice.
“There have been times where [things haven’t] worked for me, and it hasn’t even come to my mind to bring it up to anyone,” Student Body President Asa Winikur said. “It’s just like, ah, here go these tables again… Maybe you’re giving a tour to a family, and you want things to look nice and neat. Definitely, at times, it is not very neat there.”
Currently, outlets have no electricity, swivel tables are falling out of their holders, and wooden framing is falling off couches.
History Teacher Mr. Brian Long said, “I don’t know if it’s realistic to assume that any furniture used by a bunch or a collection of teenage boys is going to survive much more than a couple of years of wear and tear. I think that’s just kind of the expectation. I mean, how many desks are cracked in every classroom? It’s not like kids are not using the desks incorrectly, necessarily… they just wear out quickly.”
One of Haverford’s Principles of Community is to promote citizenship and advance the greater good for our community, but neglecting our furniture could send a different message to Third Formers entering Wilson Hall.
“I remember when I was in ninth grade, I noticed you could pull this thing right here, the armrest [of the pod], and [students would] throw trash right there.”
Reilly hope ’25
“I remember when I was in ninth grade, I noticed you could pull this thing right here, the armrest [of the pod], and [students would] throw trash right there,” Fifth Former Reilly Hope said. “I remember the leg on one of the couches broke, so no one could sit … The outlets don’t work anymore.”
Not all hope for improvement is lost, though; the administration has plans to address this issue. Earlier this year, the Upper School Head Mr. Mark Fifer and Director of Facilities Mr. Jeff Wilkinson identified the second-floor “Street” as an area to address during their yearly inspection of Wilson Hall.
Mr. Fifer said, “[It’s] something that’s on our radar for next year … It’s been something that has surfaced in previous years, but I think there have been more people who have noticed the state of [the] furniture this year.”
The decision to replace or refurbish the furniture can be made by the upper school office, depending on cost.
Currently, though, as Reilly Hope noted, “Everything is kinda just falling apart.”