As early as 1934, the college began to recognize the need for a women’s dormitory in order to extend, as they hoped even then, the opportunities offered to men to the women of the college. On April 24th, 1934 Springfield College accepted a gift from Mrs. Emily F. Abbey Gill of funds to erect a women’s dormitory; this was the beginning of the first women’s dormitory on campus.

The college continued to increase the number of women enrolled as undergraduate and graduate students, so in 1949 Mrs. Emily F. Abbey Gill donated a further $150,000 to finance the much needed women’s residency.

On June 10th, 1950, the college voted to inaugurate a regular undergraduate program for women and on July 20th, 1950 the ground breaking ceremony was held for the new dormitory. Emily F. Abbey Gill served as a member of the college corporation, but died on April 24th, 1950. After her death, the college suggested that the new dormitory be named Abbey Hall in honor of her dream of a women’s program at Springfield. When the corner stone was laid on January 18th 1951, President Limbert called it an “act of faith in the future.”

Abbey Hall was ready for occupancy in September 1951 and President Limbert commented on the scene: “the campus has a new look, I refer partly, of course, to the presence of skirts and bobby socks, to young men and young women eating together and sharing laboratory equipment, but our new women’s dormitory emerged from the chrysalis of construction as a building of architectural beauty with an enviable location.”

The formal dedication took place on May 9th, 1952, after the building was fully furnished and the interior decoration was completed. Limbert commented that “some visitors insisted that it was the most beautiful women’s dormitory they had ever seen.”

Today Abbey Hall is part of Abbey-Appleton Halls, a co-educational dormitory. However, it remains in the center of campus as a symbol of the realization of a dream for women at Springfield College.

Only a year after the first women’s dormitory was completed, the college estimated that by 1953 there would be more women than would fit in Abbey Hall. Springfield College was concerned with the safety of their women students and, along with parents, objected to them living in private homes, remote from campus, as was the custom for the men to do.

In June of 1953, a proposal was made to build an extension to Abbey Hall. The extension was referred to as West Hall. The final cost of the West Hall was $255,000 and it housed 108 women. The building was completed in March of 1956, but was not dedicated and named Appleton Hall until June 12th, 1965. On this date the building was named after its main benefactor Leirion H. Appleton, who donated to the building’s construction in memory of her husband Edward A. Appleton, former President of the Corporation of Springfield. Mrs. Appleton had remained an anonymous benefactress to Springfield College for over a decade and because of her modesty and desire for anonymity, the building was known only as West Hall until, when in 1965, Mrs. Appleton prevailed to allow the dormitory to be named in honor of her husband.

1934: Trustees voted to adopt a resolution authorizing the President to act for the college in acceptance regarding the gift of Mrs. Emily F. Abbey Gill of funds to erect a women’s dormitory.

1949: Women’s Dormitory Project beings- Mrs. Emily F. Abbey Gill made an offer of $150,000 to erect a dormitory to be named by her.

1949: Mr. Appleton stated that Mrs. Emily F. Abbey Gill transferred $138,963.95 to the college on June 9th, 1949 and more was to be transferred, bringing the total to $150,000.00 to be used to construct a dormitory for women. Trustees voted that the board accepts the gift on behalf of the college with deep gratitude.

1949: Agreement relative to the use of Mrs. Gill’s gift of $150,000.00 to the college signed on July 12th, 1949 by Emily F/ Abbey Gill, Paul M. Limbert, Wallace C. Camp and is adopted.

1949: Outline of plans to finance women’s dormitory building.

1949: Architectural plans for women’s dormitory submitted by Instructional Committee along with plans for program for women in the fall of 1951.

1950: Trustees voted that it is resolved that the college inaugurates a regular undergraduate training program for woman and that the college proceeds to erect a women’s dormitory. Mrs. Emily F. Abbey Gill dies on April 24th, 1950. She had served as a member of the corporation

1950: Formal ground breaking ceremony for women’s dormitory to be held Thursday, July 20th, 1950 at 4:00pm.

1950: Approval was given to the selection of the EJ Pinney Company as the general contractor for the women’s dormitory. Administration authorized to proceed with construction of women’s dormitory at a cost of $325,850.00.

1950: Ground breaking ceremony for Abbey Hall takes place on July 20th, 1950.

1950: Naming of the woman’s dormitory to be given to the Executive Committee with power to act. Emily F. Abbey Hall was suggested as a name.

1951: Abbey Hall cornerstone was laid on January 18th.

1952: Date set for the dedication of Abbey Hall for May 9th and May 10th.

1953: Proposal for additional dormitory space. West Hall extension started on June 28th and opened for occupancy Sept 18th. Request of completion of West Hall for approximately $160,000.00.

1955: Dedication of Appleton Hall (West Hall) extension was made in honor of the generous contribution of Leirion H. Appleton made in memory of her husband Edward A. Appleton, former President of the Corporation of Springfield). The full name of the dormitory as a whole structure is now Abbey-Appleton Halls.