Chronicles of Notre Dame du Lac
Edward Sorin, CSC -- Translated by John M. Toohey, CSC, 1895

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1842-1843

pg 45        They hardly stopped to consider the idea of modifying the 
             magnificent plan of building which they had brought with them 
             from St. Peter's.  The college was to be in the shape of a double 
             hammer, 160 x 40 ft. four stories and a half in height.
                  The erection of a college being the first condition of their 
             holding the Lake property, one of their first thoughts was to get 
             ready to carry it out at once.  Sixty thousand feet of lumber, 
             two hundred and fifty thousand bricks, and the necessary lime 
             were engaged for the following spring.  Besides, the Bishop's 
             architect, who had made the plan, also made and sent in his bid 
             for the work.  All having been done under the supervision of the 
             Bishop, his bid was accepted without long deliberation.
                  The end of winter was ardently desired that work might 
             begin.  Unfortunately, that year it was of a length and severity 
             almost unheard of in the United States.  For five whole months 
             the snow covered the ground, and during all that time there was 
             not an intermission of even one week of the intense cold.  The 
             consequence of this was unfortunate for the enterprise, because 
             the whole country was impoverished to a considerable extent.