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Crim Dell
Crim Dell
In the early 1960s, plans called for building a new library on the site of Crim Dell. Fortunately, President Paschall intervened, and Swem Library was instead constructed at the heart of the “New Campus.” He later presided over Crim Dell’s official dedication in May 1966. The area is named in memory of John W.H. Crim, class of 1901, “who loved the College.” The Crim Dell Bridge was a gift from the Class of 1964. According to campus lore, two people crossing the bridge while holding hands will remain lifelong friends—and if they share a kiss, lifelong lovers.
As you follow the path to the bridge, take note of the many natural mountain laurels (Kalmia latifolia), which put on a spectacular bloom each May. These grow alongside cultivated azaleas and beech trees (Fagus grandifolia), whose carved trunks stand as silent witnesses to generations of student romances.
Approaching the bridge, a large and stately tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) greets you on the left. Often, the tree’s flowers go unnoticed because they bloom high above the ground and fall quickly. Their shape resembles magnolias, close cousins in the plant family. Tulip poplars are vital to native pollinators, producing abundant pollen and nectar. Recent research even discovered a novel antibiotic in the nectar that preserves it in hot weather—a reminder there’s always more to learn about even the most common trees.
Cross the bridge with care—the sloping walkway can be an unexpected surprise.
On the other side, native plants continue to welcome you. To your right grows one of the most common oaks in the region, the white oak (Quercus alba). Its leaves have rounded lobes, and mature bark appears pale gray with a shredding texture. White oak wood is prized for its hardness and durability, though the trees grow slowly in exchange. To your left, large yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria) specimens flourish. The scientific name recalls the Native American use of this plant as a ceremonial tea and emetic. Yaupon holly tolerates wet soils well, making it ideal for rain gardens, and its berries serve as important wildlife food.
The eastern end of Crim Dell once contained bamboo, but it has been removed to restore native vegetation—a work still in progress. As you follow the path toward the wildflower refuge, enjoy the many azaleas, camellias, and laurels lining the way.
At the western end, in the water, look for the four-foot bronze sculpture titled Great Blue Heron with Marsh Wren and Turtle by David H. Turner ’83, donated by Ben Field ’57. The sculpture features cattails and a turtle on its base. Originally installed on land beside the water, it disappeared after Hurricane Ernesto in 2006, only to be found submerged at Crim Dell’s bottom. Biology Professor Martin Mathes consulted on its reinstallation, recommending placement at least “one student’s body length from the shore” in the water.