Southern Illinois University: Building a Campus By

Southern Illinois University: Building a Campus By: Eric Secrist David Bell Matthew Maloney Shannon McDonald Old Picture (Aerial View of Old Campus) 1 2 Introduction Table of Contents This project began to understand the culture of our campus and Its architectural development. The book examines each building A Strong Foundation 8 on campus . Multiple sources were used in the research process (1869-1930) to compile images, dates, and other historical information, including the University's archives. In this book, we do our best to Slow and Steady 16 provide various pieces of information, including: the building's official name, any and all nicknames, the date it was completed, (1931-1950) any additions or renovations to the structure, the origin of the Age of Expansion X building name, the architect, any major events that took place in the building, the building’s architectural style, and a general de- (1951-1960) scription of each building. Each building will have one or more A New Hope X pictures with a caption to better explain the SIU Carbondale campus. If possible we will provide any additional information (1961-1980) about buildings that are no longer a part of campus, however the main focus of this book is to better understand the current Sports and Service X campus architecture its history (1981-present) The book is separated into different chapters based on the Lost in Time X chronological time period of campus development . Each chapter can span anywhere from 10 to 50 years depending on the (Demolished/Inactive) construction on campus at this time. The book is a continuing ef- fort to understand what this campus is and how it has architectur- Data and Maps X ally grown into one of the top public research institutions in the United States. 3 4 1869‐1930 Introduction The first buildings of the University provided a strong foundation for the growth of the Southern Illinois Car- bondale campus. All buildings’ histories and development will be covered in this chapter, including those that no longer exist. These buildings are: Normal Hall, Old Main Hall, Altgeld Hall, Wheeler Hall, Allyn Building, Anthony Hall, Shryock Hall, Davies Gymnasium, and Parkinson Hall. The railroad that runs through town in- spired the location of the University and its continued development. All of these buildings were an essential part of the foundation of the Southern Illinois Carbon- Chapter 1: dale campus, as well as supporting its future growth. A Strong Foundation Plan of Old Campus 5 6 Normal Hall 1869‐1930 1869‐1930 Old Main Hall With its gothic archways and beau- tiful twin rose windows Normal Hall was a gem of Civil War Architec- Old Main was composed of ture. It had four floors and an en- red brick and large blocks of try staircase on each side. granite. The rounded win‐ dows are reminiscent of the This is the original cornerstone Romanesque style of archi‐ that was laid by masons for Nor- tecture. The gabled green mal Hall in 1870. This monument roofs complement the red can now be located in the southeast brick of the structure. corner of Morris Library. Named after the school itself, Southern Illinois Normal The Main Building was planned as the permanent re- University, at the time, Normal Hall was designed in the placement for Normal Hall, built on its original site, Gothic Revival Style. Although the campus was char- and was designed to be an improvement from its tered in 1869 the first permanent building on the Car- original in all aspects. The three story building was bondale campus was Normal Hall. The four story all- more aesthetically appealing with its more elaborate purpose building was completed on May 17th, 1870 Romanesque style designed by Mr. A. L. Taylor, an ar- with a celebration that included an estimate of twenty chitect from St. Louis. This building would serve as the thousand people. A fire occurred in the building on central hub for every aspect of college life from clas- November 26th, 1883 that was severe enough to con- ses to meals. On Sunday, June 8, 1969 a fire was dis- demn the building and render the campus without a covered in Old Main Hall. This event marked the sec- building. Normal Hall was the dorm, classroom, dining ond major campus building to be burned down with- hall, as well as anything that was needed by the early out a known cause. campus. 7 8 Altgeld Hall 1869‐1930 1869‐1930 Wheeler Hall Altgeld Hall resembles a Built in the Robertson Rom‐ castle made of yellow ma‐ anesque style of architec‐ sonry with ornate paern ture, this building was built of diamonds just above the of red brick and granite last set of windows. There stones that both crown and are some elements of base of the structure. Gothic architecture such as the pointed archway that leads to the entry from the quad. Aldgeld Hall, originally called the “Old Science Build- Wheeler Hall, named after a former SIU trustee Judge ing” was completed on December 22nd, 1896 and it S. P. Wheeler, was completed in 1904 as the first library was dedicated to Illinois Governor John P. Altgeld af- on campus. After the completion of Morris Library in ter he successfully obtained funding for the building. 1953, Wheeler Hall was converted to the Office for the Altgeld Hall was designed in the Gothic Revival Style SIU School of Medicine in Carbondale. Designed in the by C. Ward Rapp. It was completed in 1896 and is Robertson Romanesque Style the three floor Wheeler now the oldest building still standing on campus. In Hall was a part of a two million dollar renovation pro- 1958 Altgeld was renovated for the first time, bringing ject that updated the HVAC systems in most of the heating and air conditioning to the building. Between older buildings on campus. 2002 and 2004 it underwent major renovations to fur- ther soundproof the building so that it could house the School of Music. This building is four floors including a basement and currently houses the School of Music. 9 10 Allyn Building 1869‐1930 1869‐1930 Anthony Hall Allyn Building is constructed out Built with some elements of of yellow brick with thin slabs of the Italianate style of archi‐ concrete horizontally inter‐ tecture, such as the disnct mient throughout the struc‐ rooﬁng style with square ture. There is an interlocking windows and concrete rib‐ diamond paern in the brick boning throughout the that follows under the roof over‐ structure. This early dormi‐ hang. The addion (right side tory was build out of red of the picture) is a more modern brick and has the typical version on this old Southern Illi‐ copper roof found in univer‐ nois University Classic. sity buildings in the 1910’s. In 1908 the Allyn Building, named after former Universi- Anthony Hall, located between Parkinson and Davies, ty President Robert Allyn, was opened as the Universi- was named in honor of the famous women’s rights ac- ty’s “Model School.” This was an elementary school tivist Susan Brownell Anthony. It was erected in 1913 designed to allow those pursuing teaching to develop and designed in the Italianate style of architecture. and practice their instructional and classroom apti- The three floor Anthony Hall was the first building de- tude. Currently the building contains various arts pro- signed as a dormitory on campus specifically for wom- grams. The Vergette Gallery, named for the artist and en attending the college at that time. The original former SIU educator is located in the building. The gal- dormitory plan was for seventy five women however it lery is an impressive naturally lit space for student ex- was later changed in the year 1968 to house the ad- hibits for the School of Art and Design. ministration offices of campus; this is still the function of the building today. 11 12 Shryock Auditorium 1869‐1930 1869‐1930 Davies Gymnasium Shryock Auditorium is a perfect Beauful stone ornamentaon example of Roman Revival archi‐ and window hoods crown each tecture. This beauful yellow building. The red brick and grey brick building is capped with ter‐ stone work combine in perfect racoa le rooﬁng that is ac‐ harmony. The stone ornament cented with copper. There is an above the main entryway is com‐ egg and dart mof that can be posed of a shield and some fruits. found throughout the structure This ornamentaon is a represen‐ that represents connual death taon of an old Greek spiritual and rebirth. ritual. Named after former SIU President Henry Shryock, the Named after emeritus faculty member in the physical auditorium was designed in the Roman Revival Style education program, Dorothy R. Davies Gymnasium by J.B. Dibelka and construction was completed in was the first gymnasium built on campus. It housed the 1917. In 1970 Shryock underwent its only major reno- men’s basketball team. Designed in the Robertson vation to add air condition and re-design the seating Romanesque style by William J. Windstorm in 1925, Da- for the auditorium, the seating was reduced from one vies Gym is a three floor building that has two sepa- thousand seven hundred to one thousand two hun- rate gymnasiums as well as space for classrooms and dred. Along with the Theta Xi Variety Show, an all department facilities. Davies Gym is now the home to Greek talent show, an annual event held in Shryock the Physical Education Program as well as the wom- Auditorium since 1947, many performances are held in en’s volleyball team. this building. 13 14 Parkinson Laboratory 1869‐1930 As the last building build in old campus, Parkinson Laboratory is one of the most ornate and beauful construcons on this campus.

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