As directed by Professor Kimball, the Magnetic Laboratory was constructed at the location where Institute Road and Boynton Street currently intersect. The design of the laboratory was entirely dictated by the laws of magnetics. The axis of the main part of the building coincided with the magnetic meridian; the north and south meridians passed through opposite windows in the tower. Instead of using iron which would cause significant interference, hand cut brass nails were incorporated to secure floor boards and joints. Likewise, millstone granite accented with longmeadow sandstone was used in the exterior walls.
Kimball's original plans for the laboratory left its structure almost completely vibration free. He therefore was able to achieve much success in his experiments with both electricity and magnetism. Unfortunately, this success was short-lived. Soon after the construction of the laboratory was completed, the City of Worcester installed a horse railway service along Institute Road. With the increases in traffic came significant vibration, too much for the Magnetic Laboratory to compensate for. Two years later, the horses were replaced with trolleys, and the interference created by the electric lights installed in 1891 made the building completely useless for its intended purpose.
A transformer of 500,000 volts was installed in the old Magnetic Laboratory in 1901. It was used there for high potential experiments for six years, until it was relocated to Atwater Kent Laboratories at its completion in 1907. The laboratory served as the headquarters of Tech News, the WPI student newspaper, for seven years beginning in 1911. From 1917 - 1918, Robert H. Goddard, class of 1908, conducted experiments sponsored by a grant from the Smithsonian Institution. Therefore, the interior had to be re-designed to accommodate his early rocketry experiments.
The old Magnetic Laboratory was last remodeled in 1921 when it became home to the of WPI's senior honor society, Skull. The exterior of the building remains strikingly similar to its original design. The exterior windows have since been covered to conceal the single story room with floor space which measures 15 feet by 20 feet.
Thus ends this series on WPI history and tradition. A contest questionnaire will be included in the next issue of Newspeak on April 2nd and will be due by Friday April 5th at 5 pm in the Newspeak Office. Winners will be announced in the following April 9th edition. A History and Traditions Forum will be held on Traditions Day, April 16th. Look for more details on events in future issues of Newspeak!!!