 In its early years, due to a lack of funds, Queen's College was closed for two extended periods.Early trustees considered merging the college with the College of New Jersey, in Princeton (the measure failed by one vote) and later considered relocating to New York City.In 1808, after raising $12,000, the college was temporarily reopened and broke ground on a building of its own, called "Old Queens," designed by architect John McComb, Jr.