Professor of Geology emeritus Noel Potter taught at Dickinson from 1969-2005 and made his "home" in the James Center for a majority of those years. As much as he was a fixture in and around James during his tenure with the college he has been a fixture at the demolition/construction site watching the process and sharing nuggets of information with those who stop to listen. Read more about Professor Potter in the Dickinsonian and the Campus News Extra.

Noel's Nuggets:
Prior to being purchased by the college, the James Center property was owned by the Brethren Church

The faculty members helped to design their office and lab space during the construction of the James Center.

The seismograph located in the ground outside of the building was frequently set off by people walking too close to it or, with some apparent forethought, by Marcus Key's children.

The new science complex will contain a "mud room" where people can clean and store their equipment. The same room in James was used as storage as its location(in the basement) was not very convenient.

The minerology lab was decorated for a pre-winter break party each year.

At one point, the map storage room was flooded and Noel injured his leg running to find someone with a bucket.

His students celebrated the birth of his son Noel Jr. by decorating his officewith crepe and streamers.

Return to the Science Complex News page.