When I was a student here in the late 90s, the Ball Hall “pit” (three rows of chorale-style, wooden risers—a bit warped and painted green—situated below ground) was a feature I thought cute, but not something very often utilized from my vantage point. I recall maybe having spent one class period seated there on a nice day when our professor decided to take us out for a little fresh air. After I started working here, I realized that the pit was a popular place for taking photos… where else could you corral a large group and arrange them in such a way that you could see everyone’s face? I think a lot of wedding parties utilized the space for the same purposes (submissions I have received for the “Class Notes” section of Keuka magazine tell me so). But, beyond that, it was a hole in the ground—literally—that you had to walk around to get to your destination. I don’t mean to offend anyone who has positive sentiments about the pit. I really don’t know how it came to be or what it might have been like in its heyday (if it had one). If you’ve got stories to share about the pit, please do so. What I’m sharing here is a photo of the new lakeside Ball Hall entrance, complete with the President Joseph G. Burke Plaza. Previously, there was a set of stairs leading up to the door, and a staircase inside the door leading to the first floor lobby. Now, the door, on the same level as the pavement, leads to ground floor. While the Ball Hall pit might have been characterized as whimsical, the plaza is inarguably sophisticated.
-Tanya
The pit is what is left of the Miller Dining Room when we ate in the basement. It was used for students to celebrate birthdays, reservations were needed, my parents ate there with me when I was a freshman and sophomore. Then the new dining room was made and no longer was the dining room in the basement of Ball Hall! So the Miller Room was no longer needed and the pit was what resulted