A WALKING TOUR 200 years IN THE MAKING

7 SAYRE LIBRARY (2) The second Sayre Library was built in 1893 and funded primarily 9 OLD YOUNG through donations from Mrs. J. A. Quisenberry and Samuel D. Burchard, Young Memorial Science Hall, more commonly known as Class of 1836. Standing in front of what is now Sutcliffe Hall and Old Young, was built in 1909 and completely renovated in 1935. originally next to Old Main, it replaced the first Sayre Library. It served The building was 75 by 116 feet, three stories high, and of Bedford RUBY CHEEK HOUSE as the College’s library until construction of Carnegie Library in 1913. stone and buff pressed brick, with a tile roof. The interior, con- OLD CENTRE 5 Ruby Cheek House, built in 1860 and renovated in 1936, is The library included a large reading room, something the old Sayre structed with heavy wood beams, was finished in white brick. The 1 CRAIK HOUSE Designed and built by Danville architect Robert Russel Jr. in named for Ruby Moss Cheek, Centre Class of 1929, a Centre music library did not have, and capacity for 20,000 volumes. Following the structure served as the College’s science building until the new 3 Named for Henry Nelson Craik, Class of 1890, this two-story 1820, Old Centre is one of the oldest college facilities in continu- professor for nearly 40 years. Mrs. Cheek had a central role in creating completion of Carnegie Library, the College received an offer of Young Hall was completed in 1970. On March 14, 1970, only days Italianate was originally built in 1853 for William L. Moore. George W. ous use in America. In August 1820, Old Centre, the College’s only the Danville and Centre College art series, a prelude to the Norton $3,000 from Mr. Lyons of Danville to convert the Sayre building into before its scheduled demolition, the building was destroyed by Welsh, Centre College trustee (1866-1924), owned it from 1877 to 1937. building, opened its doors to two professors and five students, Center for the Arts series. Ruby Cheek House currently serves as classroom and laboratory space for the biology department. The fire. Like its successor, Old Young was named for John C. Young and Centre purchased the house in 1937 with funds from a Craik bequest; including Lewis W. Green, later the fifth president of the College. In student housing. College decided, instead, to incorporate the building into the structure his son William C. Young, Class of 1859, both former presidents of he had attended Centre on a ministerial scholarship. Robert L. McLeod the College’s 200-year history, Old Centre has housed classrooms, of the new Boyle-Humphrey Gymnasium. The two-story brick library Centre College. It stood directly behind the current Young Hall. was the first president to occupy the home, and it has served as the laboratories, dormitories, dining rooms, a law school, a preparatory building was burned in the same November 23, 1914, fire that residence of the College president ever since. Craik House is included OLD CARNEGIE school, a billiard room, a Civil War hospital, a mess hall, and a law 6 In 1905, Andrew Carnegie offered Centre College $30,000 for destroyed the just-finished gymnasium. What little remained of the ARMY AIR CORPS 20TH COLLEGE in a National Register of Historic Places historic district. 10 library. It presently serves as an administrative building. Old Centre the construction of a new library on the condition that the College Sayre structure was demolished in the rebuilding of the gymnasium. TRAINING DETACHMENT is listed individually in the National Register of Historic Places. The raise a matching $30,000 endowment. By 1912, the College had In January 1943, Centre College entered into a contract with the STUART HALL “C6 H0” on the cover photo celebrates a Centre football victory in raised the funds. Carnegie Library opened in the summer of 1914, OLD MAIN United States government to house 450 cadets from the Army 4 Built ca. 1815, Stuart Hall was a private residence, a fraternity 8 1921 over an undefeated Harvard team. replacing Sayre Library. It was designed by Grant Miller, who also Originally planned for construction in 1863, the College Board Air Corps 20th College Training Detachment. In turn, the entire house, and a funeral home before it was acquired by the College. The designed Boyle Humphrey Gymnasium. Carnegie Library had a of Trustees had to put the plans for Old Main on hold until after the men’s campus was turned over to the Army. In February 1943, the building housed the Centre bookstore and a coffee shop/cafe called HILLCREST HOUSE capacity of 55,000 volumes, more than twice the size of Sayre, and Civil War. The building was finally completed in 1871 at a cost of first 200 aircrew students arrived on campus, followed by the re- 2 Centre Shoppes from 1992 to 2005. A highway marker from the Standing in front of what is now 762 West Main, Hillcrest contained a large reading room, two seminar rooms, a faculty room, approximately $50,000, as designed by architect John Andrewartha. maining 250 in March. After this initial period, students arrived in Kentucky Historical Society in front of the hall commemorates John was built as the College refectory in the early 1800s. In 1831, and the President’s office. Andrew Carnegie’s foundation would fund Until the construction of Old Young in 1909, Old Main served as groups of 90. Over a period of five months, the crewmen received Todd Stuart, Class of 1826, a friend who persuaded Abraham Lincoln it became the home of Centre president John C. Young and the construction of more than 2,500 libraries across the United States Centre’s primary academic building, offering a museum, lecture rooms instruction in mathematics, physics, history, geography, English, to pursue a career in law. served as the home of Centre’s presidents until Craik House was between 1883 and 1929. After the opening of the Grace Doherty and laboratories, the chapel, and libraries for the literary societies. In and Civil Air Regulations. By the end of the program, in June 1944, purchased in 1937. Hillcrest later served as a faculty and student Library in 1967, Old Carnegie housed the College bookstore, the post later years, College offices, the post office, and the bookstore were on close to 1,800 crewmen had passed through Centre College, 51 residence and as a classroom building until its demolition in office, and a counseling and placement service. Last renovated and the lower level. Old Main was demolished in 1964 to provide space of whom would give their lives during the war. 1969. restored in 1993, it now houses the Center for Career and Professional for the construction of the new Grace Doherty Library and Crounse Hall. 6Development and the Center for Global Citizenship. Carnegie Library is listed individually in the National Register of Historic Places. CENTRE COLLEGE CAMPUS MAP entre College is among the nation’s oldest undergraduate institutions, chartered by the Kentucky Legislature on CJanuary 21, 1819. Some of Kentucky’s most important citizens sat on the first board of trustees, including future abolitionist James Birney and surgical pioneer Ephraim McDowell. Isaac Shelby, a Revolutionary War hero and the commonwealth’s first and fifth governor, was Centre’s first board chair. 3 4 5 The College opened its doors in the fall of 1820 with a single building—Old Centre—a faculty of two, and a student body MAIN STREET of five. There are now approximately 1,450 students and just BRECKINRIDGE HALL 11 Breckinridge Hall was built in 1892 as a dormitory for over 150 professors. The 152-acre campus includes nearly 70 2 STREET 5TH MAPLE AVENUE buildings. Two buildings are listed individually in the National students at the Danville Theological Seminary and named for Rev. DOWNTOWN Robert J. Breakinridge, a founder of the Seminary. Centre took DANVILLE Register of Historic Places; 11 others are included in National over Breckinridge as a residence hall in 1901 when the Seminary 1 Register historic districts. consolidated with the Louisville Theological Seminary. On March 2, 1908, a fire destroyed much of the building. It was rebuilt to During its first century, Centre concentrated on the education house administrative offices, classrooms for the modern languages WEST WALNUT STREET of young men. In 1926, it merged with Kentucky College for department, a large drawing room, and dormitory space. During Women but maintained separate campuses for men and World War II, it housed cadets from the Army Air Corp 20th College 12 Training Detachment, who dubbed it “Gruesome Gables.” women until 1962. Also in 1962, Centre enrolled its first black A Walking Tour 11 6 student, a transfer student from Ghana. Two years later, its first SAYRE LIBRARY (1) OF CENTRE COLLEGE 12 three African American students enrolled. In 1858, prominent Lexington businessman David A. Sayre 8 gave Centre $5,000 for the construction of a library. Built in the 7 N STREET COLLEGE We invite you to follow the path of this brochure and take in area where Olin Hall now stands, the first Sayre Library was one of 200 years 9 the sights of this beautiful, historically significant campus. The only 10 freestanding college library buildings in the country when W E it was completed in 1862. Following the completion of the second tour will lead to a restored Old Centre, in its time a student IN THE MAKING Sayre Library in 1894, the original octagonal-shaped building was S residence, classrooms, a Civil War hospital and mortuary, and demolished. now the campus’s main administration building. You will also

BEATTY AVENUE find Craik House, current home to the College president; Old WHERE TO START 10 Carnegie, formerly the College library; Breckinridge Hall, The walking tour begins at the oldest, continuously used dormitory on campus, but first Old Centre—the College’s a home to the Danville Theological Seminary; and the sites first building. Construction where such buildings as Old Young, Old Main, and the Sayre on Old Centre began in 1819 libraries once stood. As the College celebrates 200 years, we and was completed in 1820 at a cost of $8,000. It was invite you to admire the beautiful campus of today and take designed to hold up to 400 RUSSELL STREET a glimpse into the past to see the elegance and charm of a students in the College and campus that, while always growing, maintains its historical also a grammar school. It has and cultural heritage. been used continuously since Centre’s beginning and, today, As Centre celebrates its bicentennial in houses administrative offices as 2019, having met tremendous challeng- well as meeting rooms and the es and setbacks throughout its history, it Admission Office’s reception is well positioned to begin its Third Cen- area for prospective students. tury of education, preparing students for lives of learning, leadership, and service.