Old Main (Marshall University)

"Old Main." Marshall University. 20 Dec. 2006 .

History

Brown, Lisle, ed. "Marshall Academy, 1837." Marshall University Special Collections. 1 Sept. 2004, 20 Dec. 2006 .

Brown, Lisle, ed. "Marshall Academy, 1839." Marshall University Special Collections. 1 Sept. 2004, 20 Dec. 2006 .

. The classroom building also featured a chapel. It hosted its first classes in 1838, although the building was not completed until March of the following year. In 1854, an addition was planned for the west side of the structure, along with a third floor for the original two-story structure Brown, Lisle, ed. "Marshall Academy, 1856." Marshall University Special Collections. 1 Sept. 2004, 20 Dec. 2006 .. The new addition would be three-stories tall and include a chapel. Construction began two years later, however, due to a lack of funds, only the first floor chapel was completed in the addition, and the third floor addition had not been started.

Funding issues and the American Civil War halted the construction of the western addition and the third floor until 1867 after the state of West Virginia took control of the college from Virginia . Just three years later, another addition was completed on the west side; a veranda was also constructed that ran the entire length of the structure.

In 1897, the 1839 building was demolished because the three interconnected structures had become too small Brown, Lisle, ed. "Marshall Academy, 1896." Marshall University Special Collections. 1 Sept. 2004, 20 Dec. 2006 ..

New building takes shape

In 1895, appropriations were passed for the construction of a new structure . The new building, designed by Architects Frank E. Davis and Henry R. Davis of Baltimore, Maryland, was constructed in fourteen months; it was accepted on November 23, 1896 by the Board of Regents. It was named the "College Building" upon completion. The new three-story "College Building" was built seventy-five feet west of the original Maple Grove complex. It's most distinguishing feature is the large brick tower that contained and observation platform at the top.

In late December 1897, the new female dormitory, "Normal Hall", was completed; it was accepted by the Board of Regents the following year. It was then titled "Ladies Hall" followed by College Hall Brown, Lisle, ed. "Marshall Academy, 1898." Marshall University Special Collections. 1 Sept. 2004, 20 Dec. 2006 .. After the 1898 building and its attachment to the 1870 building was completed, it still remained separated from the 1896 building.

In 1899, the "Annex" addition from 1870 and the building constructed in 1896 were combined ; the eastern most section of the 1896 building was demolished to make room for the new structure. In 1906, a western extension of Old Main was completed. This required the removal of the large bell tower that had once stood in the 1870 addition.

In March 1905, additional monies were appropriated for the construction of a new structure Brown, Lisle, ed. "Marshall Academy, 1907." Marshall University Special Collections. 1 Sept. 2004, 20 Dec. 2006 .. Called "University Hall," the western attachment to the 1896 building included a commencement hall, eight recreation rooms, five restrooms, two cloak rooms, a study hall, library and gymnasium. Construction began in July 1905 when demolition began on the western tower if the 1896 building. The addition was completed in 1907.

In 1937, the building, which had no official name prior, was coined Old Main in a Marshall College catalog. In 1973, Old Main was placed on the National Register of Historic Sites.

References

See also

Buildings at Marshall University
Cityscape of Huntington, West Virginia
Marshall University

External links

Old Main at Marshall University
Old Main at Marshall University's Virtual Museum