Spruce Cottage was built in 1890 and was first occupied by George Gilbert "Swampy" Pond, dean of the eventual College of Chemistry and Physics, and his family. The Ponds were very sociable, hosting many gatherings, and the cottage was fondly nicknamed "Swampscote" after the dean. After 1921, the cottage had many uses--as a guest house for distinguished visitors to the University, a sorority home, and a space for women's conferences and for home economics research. Later it housed several departments and offices in turn, including the campus police, the Offices of Mail and Telephone Services, the Department of Publications, and the Office of Summer Sessions.
In 1938, to make way for the construction of Osmond Laboratory, Spruce Cottage was relocated to its present location behind Ritenour Building. Today, it serves as an instructional facility for students in Penn State's
Forensic Science program.