The four gates that command the entranceway to the historic Old Queen’s campus have provided Rutgers a deep-rooted sense of legacy. But they are showing their age; large sections have fallen into disrepair. Now, thanks to a generous alumni gift, the gates will be restored to their original luster.

The Rutgers Class of 1956, comprised of students in the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Engineering, College of Agriculture, and the then-undergraduate School of Education, raised $776,371, in part to preserve the 100-year-old, wrought-iron gates that frame Old Queen’s. The campus is bounded by Somerset Street, George Street, College Avenue, and Hamilton Street.

The funds cover not only the restoration of the gates but also an overhaul for “William the Silent.” The bronze statue on Voorhees Mall – a replica of one erected in Holland’s Hague museum – has kept a watchful eye on the campus scene for nearly 80 years. “Silent Willie” has recently been cleaned to remove graffiti and transparent tape residue, but conservation efforts are needed to restore bronze casting and granite base.

Elizabeth Reeves, assistant facilities planner, said she was “flabbergasted” to learn of the gift. “I thought that someone might pick up one of these projects; but I never expected a class would pick up all of them!” At a large, public university such as Rutgers, the gates – the oldest of which is the Western Gateway, built in 1901 – are “the image of the institution,” Reeves said. “It is so important that they be maintained for future generations.”