A Walk Through Berry College

Written by Jeb Blount, Marketing Intern, The Spires at Berry College

It’s like stepping into a time forgotten, or onto a movie screen that is panning over the first day of spring. The campus of Berry College is breathtaking, freeing, and awe-inspiring in all directions. In the warmth of the summer sun, the fields of grass and grain shimmer in the light mountain breeze. Surrounded by large oaks and magnolias, the neo-classical architecture complements the vibrant green shades of life. High columns and burnt red brick buildings invite students into the proud learning institution that is Berry College. At the foot of Lavender Mountain lies this charming mountain school, sitting on a 27,000-acre campus—the largest in the world—yet, it always feels like home.

I am Jeb Blount, a marketing intern here at The Spires and a rising Junior at Berry College. Before joining The Spires in February, I was the Editor for the Valkyrie Magazine, a student-run publication here on campus. We, as students, are very involved in the workings of our institution, which is the foundation that Martha Berry wanted to instill in all of us. The inclination to work, take initiative, and handle responsibility is the staple of our education. Some might argue that it is possibly the greatest learning experience that we could have, aided by classroom studies. I’m the President of the Politics and Law Society and have participated on the Track and Field team among many other campus activities. When visiting, you’d be hard pressed to find a student who does nothing but go to class.

Many describe Berry College’s campus as a magical place and some of our depositors wanted to know exactly what that meant. So, we arranged a tour led by myself and Leah Cobb, a recent graduate and our Sales Assistant here at The Spires. We took our small group to an overlook of Kilpatrick Commons, the outside dining area with a waterfall that runs all year round and gives the dining area a nice natural background noise. It is a central location on campus, just seconds away from the Krannert Student center, Cage Athletic Complex, Macalister Science Building, and Evans Hall. After enjoying a few moments in the shade, we took the paved sidewalk across Opportunity Drive to Evans Hall.

Evans Hall is the home of the Humanities studies, where I spend about half of my class time as a Political Science Major. The building has neo-classical entrance ways with reaching white columns leading to the classical pediments. Inside it smells like liberal arts, an old building built in the early 1940’s. Classrooms and offices line the hallway and offer students a welcoming atmosphere. From there, Leah and I led the group to see the college chapel. This place of worship is built like many small Baptist or Methodist churches in the countryside of Georgia. A long brick building, it boasts a tall steeple that looks over the campus with a watchful eye. The white doors invite those of any denomination to give thanks and engage in fellowship each Monday morning with a service led by the college Chaplain. The simple but warm interior design is both soothing and magnificent, certainly a place to visit on a trip to Berry College.

At our next stop, the Ford Castle, our depositors were struck by its intense beauty and magical aura. The Castle sits just north of main campus, but you’d think you were in a scene from Harry Potter. The large complex houses about 400 students, the Music Department, Alumni Center, and Admissions office. The center of the castle is the Ford Dining hall, a large tower that casts its shadow across the reflecting pools and over to the clock tower above the Ford Auditorium. Against the beauty of the castle walls, the green lawn invites many students to bring their blankets, music, and reading materials on a warm spring day. While walking around the complex we told our depositors the history of such a place. Henry Ford, a close friend of our founder Martha Berry, wrote the check to finance the building of the Castle in the late 1930’s. For many years it was the home of the girls’ school and educational buildings. The castle, of course, is named after Mr. Ford and the different buildings are named for his wife and mother, Clara and Mary. If there is one place to visit on Berry’s campus, this would be THE place to go.

Please reach out to us if you’d like to tour the campus yourself to see the beauty and community you get to enjoy as part of life at The Spires.