University North Dakota
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UniversityUniversity ofof NorthNorth Dakota A Grand Forks Historic District A GrandA Grand Forks Forks Historic District District A collection of Collegiate Gothic architecture A collection of Collegiate Gothic architecture unrivaled in the Midwest unrivaled in the Midwest A collection of Collegiate Gothic architecture 481868_kp6.indd 1 11/23/12 10:45 AM unrivaled in the Midwest Downtown Grand Forks Parade to to the curriculum. The first president, William Blackburn, celebrate the laying of the corner- stone at UND, Oct. 2, 1883 was a fine scholar but he lacked the organizational and executive skills to create a university from scratch. Main Hall, the only building, began to shift and settle as soon as it was completed; it also had no furnace and no storm windows during the first year of use. UND, in the 1880s, was cold, lonely, and almost inaccessible for much of the spring and winter. Main Hall, later known as Old Main, was the first The University nearly closed twice in its early years. First, building on campus. It housed classrooms, offices, a tornado struck in 1887, severely damaging Main Hall. library, dining and lodging Rebuilding was quickly undertaken to thwart talk of for faculty, staff and moving the school to another community. The greater students. This building, which appeared huge on threat resulted from the economic depression of 1894. the open prairie, actually State budgets were slashed and UND remained open only fit within the space because faculty accepted a 25% salary cut and the Grand between Merrifield and Twamley Halls. Forks community raised enough money to keep the school afloat for two years. The University of North Dakota core campus is listed on That community support was well placed. UND has grown the National Register of Historic Places in recognition of from a single building on the prairie to nearly 150. The core its historic buildings, striking open spaces, and significant campus, east of the English Coulee, boasts 56 buildings and contributions in higher education and research to the state open spaces listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and nation. including the second largest concentration of Collegiate Events leading up to the establishment of a university in Gothic style architecture in the United States. Grand Forks in 1883 were full of the political maneuvering UND’s historic campus and its sorority and fraternity houses typical of territories striving for statehood. Dakota Territory represent more than 85 years of architectural styles and legislators scrambled to obtain lucrative and prestigious educational development in the state of North Dakota. institutions for their communities. From the days of classical curricula to today’s broad range As political alliances formed, dissolved and reformed, George of programs, including professional and graduate degrees; Walsh of Grand Forks quickly introduced “A bill for an Act from one building of indeterminate style and problematic Locating the University of North Dakota at Grand Forks, construction to 550 acres of educational property, including a N.D., and Providing for the Government thereto.” That the National Register Historic District; from infancy to maturity; “bill” was a sheaf of blank pages went unnoticed and, in the from classes in Greek to aviation; from raw prairie to two days before it would be read in committee, Walsh wrote structured landscape, the University of North Dakota has a real bill and substituted it for the fake. His bill passed grown and prospered. and the University of North Dakota came to Grand Forks. This naming of UND was the first official use of the term “North Dakota,” six years before statehood. Grand Forks land developer William Budge donated twenty acres of flat, windy prairie a mile west of town and promised a $10,000 observatory. The Territorial Legislature issued bonds for $30,000 to erect a building and create a functioning University. Though the observatory was never completed, the ample acreage gave the young campus plenty of room to expand. The first years were difficult. Students were not ready for university level work so preparatory classes had to be added UND Campus, ca. 1965, Memorial Stadium at center top Cover Illustration: Merrifield Hall, drawn by Samuel T. DeRemer 481868_kp6.indd 2 11/23/12 10:45 AM Downtown Grand Forks Parade to to the curriculum. The first president, William Blackburn, celebrate the laying of the corner- stone at UND, Oct. 2, 1883 was a fine scholar but he lacked the organizational and executive skills to create a university from scratch. Main Hall, the only building, began to shift and settle as soon as it was completed; it also had no furnace and no storm windows during the first year of use. UND, in the 1880s, was cold, lonely, and almost inaccessible for much of the spring and winter. Main Hall, later known as Old Main, was the first The University nearly closed twice in its early years. First, building on campus. It housed classrooms, offices, a tornado struck in 1887, severely damaging Main Hall. library, dining and lodging Rebuilding was quickly undertaken to thwart talk of for faculty, staff and moving the school to another community. The greater students. This building, which appeared huge on threat resulted from the economic depression of 1894. the open prairie, actually State budgets were slashed and UND remained open only fit within the space because faculty accepted a 25% salary cut and the Grand between Merrifield and Twamley Halls. Forks community raised enough money to keep the school afloat for two years. The University of North Dakota core campus is listed on That community support was well placed. UND has grown the National Register of Historic Places in recognition of from a single building on the prairie to nearly 150. The core its historic buildings, striking open spaces, and significant campus, east of the English Coulee, boasts 56 buildings and contributions in higher education and research to the state open spaces listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and nation. including the second largest concentration of Collegiate Events leading up to the establishment of a university in Gothic style architecture in the United States. Grand Forks in 1883 were full of the political maneuvering UND’s historic campus and its sorority and fraternity houses typical of territories striving for statehood. Dakota Territory represent more than 85 years of architectural styles and legislators scrambled to obtain lucrative and prestigious educational development in the state of North Dakota. institutions for their communities. From the days of classical curricula to today’s broad range As political alliances formed, dissolved and reformed, George of programs, including professional and graduate degrees; Walsh of Grand Forks quickly introduced “A bill for an Act from one building of indeterminate style and problematic Locating the University of North Dakota at Grand Forks, construction to 550 acres of educational property, including a N.D., and Providing for the Government thereto.” That the National Register Historic District; from infancy to maturity; “bill” was a sheaf of blank pages went unnoticed and, in the from classes in Greek to aviation; from raw prairie to two days before it would be read in committee, Walsh wrote structured landscape, the University of North Dakota has a real bill and substituted it for the fake. His bill passed grown and prospered. and the University of North Dakota came to Grand Forks. This naming of UND was the first official use of the term “North Dakota,” six years before statehood. Grand Forks land developer William Budge donated twenty acres of flat, windy prairie a mile west of town and promised a $10,000 observatory. The Territorial Legislature issued bonds for $30,000 to erect a building and create a functioning University. Though the observatory was never completed, the ample acreage gave the young campus plenty of room to expand. The first years were difficult. Students were not ready for university level work so preparatory classes had to be added UND Campus, ca. 1965, Memorial Stadium at center top Cover Illustration: Merrifield Hall, drawn by Samuel T. DeRemer 481868_kp6.indd 3 11/23/12 10:45 AM Colonial Revival - with roots in the Georgian and Adam styles of the Revolutionary period, Colonial Revival is quite formal, exhibiting symmetry in window and door placement, multi-paned double-hung windows, and enhanced entrances variously featuring fanlights, sidelights, and decorative crowns supported by pilasters or extended out to form a small covered entrance. President’s House, A5 Neoclassical/Beaux Arts - characterized by symmetry, large prominent columns with decorative capitols, and masonry construction. Designed to present an image of strength and stability, the style was popular for governmental buildings and can be seen in several important buildings in downtown Grand Forks. Wesley College, A6 and A7 UND President’s House, ca. 1915 Classical Revival - a highly symmetrical design with horizontal massing, typically having a low hipped roof that may Buildings on the National Register of Historic Places be partially obscured by balustrades. Carnegie Library, A16 in the UND Historic District date from Modern - following World War II, architectural design 1899 to 1965. became more spare and simple, with less applied Important District Architectural Styles: ornamentation. Design elements were derived from function and used more glass and metal. Pi Kappa Phi House, C3 Collegiate Gothic - characterized by the use of brick exteriors, stone window and door surrounds, crenellated parapets, gothic-arched entrances, multi-light windows, and the application of exterior tracery as ornamentation. This is the predominant style on the University campus. Merrifield Hall, A2 and Cover Tudor Revival - half-timbering with stucco and brickwork, steeply pitched roofs, and dormer windows are all common elements of Tudor Revival. Several campus buildings and Greek houses demonstrate this style.