Oklahoma National Register Properties

National Register Properties in Oklahoma OLD CENTRAL

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DESCRIPTION: THIS PROPERTY WAS LISTED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES IN 1971 AND IS A CONTRIBUTING RESOURCE TO THE O.S.U. CAMPUS DISTRICT. NR ID Number 71000672 Historic Name OLD CENTRAL Current Name OSU CAMPUS DISTRICT Project Name STILLWATER Latitude 36.12061 Longitude -97.0667 Address OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS City STILLWATER County PAYNE County code 119 Lot UNPLATTED Block UNPLATTED Section 14/15

http://www.seic.okstate.edu/shpo/shpopic.asp?id=71000672[12/11/2012 4:13:47 PM] Oklahoma National Register Properties

Township 19 N Range 2 E Type B BUILDING Historic Function 05B COLLEGE Current Function 08C MUSUEM Area Significance 1 030 ARCHITECTURE Area Significance 2 Architect / Builder HERMAN HADLEY (ARCHITECT) HENDERSON RYAN (BUILDER) Date Prepared FEBRUARY 18, 1998 Year Built 1893/1894 Original Site YES Architectural Style 47 ROMANESQUE Roof Material 63 ASPHALT Wall Material 30 BRICK Window Material 55 ALUMINUM Door Material 20 WOOD Decorative Detail BELFRY TOWER (BELL AND CLAPPER INTACT) COVERED WITH Condition 02 GOOD

Comments:- 41. DECORATIVE DETAILS (CONTINUED): FOLIATED METAL ORNAMENTATION AND FISH SCALE SHINGLES TOPPED BY FINIAL/ VENTILATOR TOWER WITH LOUVERED LANTERN AND HEXAGONAL BASED TENT ROOF TOPPED BY FINIAL/ ROUND ARCHED OPENINGS WITH STONE VOUSSOIRS/ PATTERNED SHINGLES IN GABLE ENDS/ BRACKETED CORNICE RETURNS/ STONE BELT COURSE/ CONTINUOUS STONE SILL/ DECORATIVE TIE RODS/ CIRCULAR WINDOW WITH STONE SURROUND.

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OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY

Situated in the township of Stillwater the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Oklahoma Territory was organized in the unstable social environment created after the Land Opening of 1889. It is somewhat prophetic that the founding bill received passage on Christmas Eve in 1890, because the institution eventually formed a relationship with the region that is now identified as the Bible Belt. Meeting in the McKennon Opera House in Guthrie, the First Legislative Assembly of Oklahoma Territory passed legislation to establish a land-grant college at the request of Gov. George W. Steele. It was difficult to get a specific bill passed, because every county in the territory coveted the federal funding associated with the creation of an agricultural and mechanical college and an agricultural experiment station. Eventually, George Gardenhire, a Populist, pushed passage of a compromise bill, and it was this document that Steele signed on the last day of the legislative session.

Oklahoma State University's history divides itself into several chronological periods, the first three of which correspond to a different form of governance. From 1890 to 1907 the institution had a separate governing board. During that time five presidents worked to establish a mission and an identity for the small Stillwater college. Although this phase brought several important firsts, little progress was achieved due to financial problems, ineptness, and corruption. However during this period, the first permanent building was constructed. Dedicated on June 15, 1894, that building

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known as Old Central was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971 (NR 71000672). The institution performed largely a teaching mission, because it did not have the resources to extend its influence beyond the perimeters of the campus.

During the second period from 1908 to 1944, the Oklahoma State Board of Agriculture guided the college's affairs. Growth, both in quantity and quality, occurred during these thirty-six years, with programs, especially those related to extension, encompassing the state. In addition, nine presidents directed the work of the faculty and oversaw the training of students, who later provided leadership to the region and nation.

In July 1944 the Oklahoma Constitution was amended to create a separate Board of Regents for the state's agricultural and mechanical colleges. The regents acquired the services of two outstanding presidents who strengthened Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College internally and who extended the land-grant college idea overseas under the auspices of the Point Four Program. Henry Garland Bennett, the first of the two presidents, was a man of uncommon vision. He brought modernity to the college, and after Pres. Harry S. Truman appointed him to head the Technical Cooperation Administration, Bennett succeeded in getting contracts for the Stillwater college to develop programs in Africa, the Middle East, South and Southeast Asia, and Central and South America. Unfortunately, Bennett's death in a plane crash in Iran on December 22, 1951, slowed international efforts. His successor, Oliver Siralvo Willham, continued in Bennett's footsteps and improved the institution's status, that resulted in a name change effective July 1, 1957. Renamed Oklahoma State University (OSU), the institution established or strengthened satellite campuses in Okmulgee and Oklahoma City, where vocational and technical educational programs received emphasis. At the same time, OSU was invited to join the Big Seven Athletic Conference. The third stage of development ended in 1957.

From 1957 to the present, OSU has steadily climbed the prestige ladder, becoming what a now-deceased chancellor of the University of California called "the multiuniversity." Through teaching, extension, and research, a large number of professional, vocational, and technical programs have cast the orange and black colors of the alma mater around the world as is evidenced by the number of foreign flags positioned around the International Mall adjacent to the Edmon Low Library. Agriculture and engineering remain dominant fields of study, but the areas of education, business, firemanship, and health science have produced impressive graduates as well as cutting edge research. Athletics prospered too. Henry Iba and Eddie Sutton have each led teams to the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) finals. Generally, football teams are ranked in the top twenty-five in the nation. Baseball, golf, and wrestling participants have few national peers.

The process of coming of age was not easy for Oklahoma State University. Increased appropriations from the state legislature came slowly and often with strings attached. In the 1940s the institution trained men and women in uniform and garnered increased federal funding. Also, OSU took a hard look at segregation and opened its doors to African Americans without most of the overt problems experienced in the Deep South. On the campus a Veterans Village became home to approximately five thousand service men and women who arrived back in the United States and enrolled in classes to take advantage of the GI Bill. The village was larger than the town of Stillwater and had its own governmental administrative

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structure. It took a few strategies to get new buildings. For example, Gallagher Hall, a basketball and wrestling facility, received funds to have a proper place, not for athletics, but for the annual state convention of the 4-H clubs. Murray Hall was named for William "Alfalfa Bill" Murray, the sitting governor, and rumors continue to persist that he came with a ladder after dark to see if his name was permanently chiseled in stone. Whitehurst Hall received its identity from John A. Whitehurst, a Board of Regents president. Willard Hall was built in honor of temperance champion Frances Willard. Morrill Hall provided a training facility for the Reserve Army Training Corps. Henry Garland Bennett is memorialized with a student dormitory as well as a chapel built with public donations after his death.

Like the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University had to establish a preparatory school in order to have students who could handle collegiate classes. Under the tutelage of Pres. Robert J. Barker, fifty students enrolled for the initial offerings, with instruction being given in the local Congregational Church, transferring later to the First Presbyterian Church and to the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Both young men and women registered and the latter accompanied the boys as they engaged in reading, writing, and arithmetic as well as military tactics and outdoor drill. The girls were included, because officials did not want to be deficient in any aspect of the various land-grant act provisions.

Numerous college and university presidents have provided leadership throughout OSU's history. Robert J. Barker, Henry E. Alvord, Edmund D. Murdaugh, George E. Morrow, and Angelo C. Scott headed the institution during the territorial period. Alvord was a major figure in the Association of American Agricultural Colleges and Experiment Stations and became the first head of the Dairy Division of the Animal Industry, in Washington, D.C. Scott, a diminutive man, was an early Oklahoma City civic leader and served as the cultural leader of the Sooner State after he left Stillwater. With the exception of James Henry Connell and James W. Cantwell, the chief executives served short tenures until Henry Garland Bennett came on the scene. For example, in 1923 four men served as president: James B. Eskridge, George Wilson, Richard Gaines Tyler, and Bradford Knapp. After Bennett and Willham, Robert B. Kamm, Lawrence L. Boger, and David J. Schmidly occupied the presidential chair with exceptional distinction and, in turn, the legislature rewarded them with larger budgets and a degree of autonomy that the institution had never known before. At the turn of the twenty-first century the Georgian-style buildings and the manicured landscaping provided an educational oasis set in the midst of rich farm and ranch lands in north-central Oklahoma for about twenty-five thousand students. Comprised of ten colleges, OSU offered master's degrees and doctorates including the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.

SEE ALSO: AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATIONS, AGRICULTURAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES–STATE, DAIRY INDUSTRY, FOOTBALL, MEDICAL EDUCATION, WRESTLING.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: James H. Boggs, comp., A History of Governance at Oklahoma State University (Stillwater: Oklahoma State University, 1992). Berlin Basil Chapman, Early History of the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College (Stillwater: Oklahoma State University, 1929). Don Dellinger, Intercollegiate Athletics (Stillwater: Oklahoma State University, 1990). Jerry Leon Gill, A History of International Programs at Oklahoma State University (Stillwater: Oklahoma State University,

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1991). Robert B. Kamm, Oklahoma State University: People, Programs, Places: The First Hundred Years (Stillwater: Oklahoma State University, 1990). Pauline W. Kopecky, A History of Equal Opportunity at Oklahoma State University (Stillwater: Oklahoma State University, 1990). Philip Reed Rulon, Oklahoma State University Since 1890 (Stillwater: Oklahoma State University Press, 1975). J. Lewie Sanderson, et al., A History of the Oklahoma State University Campus (Stillwater: Oklahoma State University, 1990). Angelo Cyrus Scott, The Story of an Administration of the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College (Oklahoma City, Okla.: A. C. Scott, 1942).

Philip Reed Rulon

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OLD CENTRAL BELL RINGS IN RESTORATION OF HISTORIC OSU BUILDING

Wednesday, 10 October 2007 08:23 Search News Oklahoma State University officials and guests rang the Old Central bell Wednesday, Home marking the dedication and official start of a $7 million restoration and renovation of the 113- year old building. President (STILLWATER, OK, Oct. 10, 2007) - Oklahoma Historical Campus Safety Society Executive Director Bob Blackburn joined Press Releases Oklahoma State University OSU Ledger officials and guests today to ring the Old Central bell OSU Headlines marking the dedication and official start of a $7 million restoration and renovation of the 113-year old building. Stillwater Community

Social Media The current restoration will essentially give Old Central a new foundation. When completed, the renovated building Campuses will house the OSU Honors College and continue to be the home of the Oklahoma Museum of Higher Education. Accomplishments Interim Oklahoma State University System CEO and President “This building stands as a symbol of just how far higher Faculty Experts Marlene Strathe, retired OSU history professor LeRoy Fischer education has come in the state of Oklahoma,” said Bob and Oklahoma Historical Society Executive Director and OSU Blackburn. “Not only has this building been influential in graduate Bob Blackburn are the first three in a line of dignitaries the education of our state in the past, but its current who rang the Old Central bell Wednesday to mark the dedication renovation will make it an important part of education in and official start of a $7 million restoration and renovation of Oklahoma in the future.” OSUâ€™s historic Old Central building. The current restoration will essentially give Old Central a new foundation. When Blackburn added, “It is more than fitting that the completed, the renovated building will house the OSU Honors renovation of Old Central is taking place during an College and continue to be the home of the Oklahoma Museum important time in our state's history, its centennial.” of Higher Education.

“Putting students back in this building will take Old Central back to what it was originally built to be, a building for higher learning,” said interim OSU System CEO and President Marlene Strathe. “It is exciting this historic building will once again be filled with the sounds of students and educators.”

Oklahoma State University’s nationally-recognized Honors College serves nearly 900 of the school’s top students from all six undergraduate colleges on the Stillwater campus.

“I can’t think of a better place to house the Honors College,” said Bob Spurrier, Director of the OSU Honors College. “We are excited to give this very important part of our university’s academic mission a permanent home and are proud it will be in Old Central.”

Originally called the College Building, Old Central was the first permanent structure built at OSU, then Oklahoma A&M College. It opened its doors in 1894 and the initial cost was $25,000. Through the years, the building has been the location for the President’s office, university office space, classes, commencement, the student newspaper and the university’s first print shop. Classes were last held in Old Central in 1921. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Placed in 1971.

Current renovation of the 11,088 square foot building is being funded through the Oklahoma State Regents of Higher Education capital lease program and is scheduled to be completed by December of 2008.

Oklahoma’s only university with a statewide presence, Oklahoma State University is a five-campus, public land-grant educational system that improves the lives of people in Oklahoma, the nation, and the world through integrated, high- quality teaching, research and outreach. OSU has nearly 33,000 students across its system and nearly 21,000 on its Stillwater campus. Established in 1890, the Stillwater campus is the home of the OSU System. The STATE’s university boasts students from all 50 states and nearly 120 nations, and has more than 200,000 alumni throughout the world. Last Updated on Wednesday, 10 October 2007 10:22

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University History Famous OSU Alumni Athletes Our Beginning Barry Sanders, 1988 Oklahoma State University was founded on December 25, 1890, as Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical Heisman Trophy Winner College, just twenty months after the Land Run of 1889. When the first students assembled for class on and 2004 Hall of Fame December 14, 1891, there were no buildings, no books, and no curriculum. Bob Tway, PGA Tour Bryant Reeves, Memphis In 1894, two and one-half years after classes began in local churches, 144 Grizzlies, retired students moved into the first academic building, later known as Old Central, Charles Howell, III, PGA on the southeast corner of campus. In 1896, Oklahoma A&M; held its first Tour Desmond Mason, commencement with six male graduates. Milwaukee Bucks On July 1, 1957, Oklahoma A&M College officially became Oklahoma State Doug Tewell, PGA Tour Champion University. Technical branches were established in Okmulgee in 1946 and in Eddie Sutton, legendary Oklahoma City in 1961, later renamed OSU-Okmulgee and OSU-Oklahoma OSU basketball coach City in 1990. In July of 1988, the Oklahoma College of Osteopathic Medicine Hunter Mahan, PGA Tour and Surgery became the College of Osteopathic Medicine of OSU. Jamal Williams, NFL All- Pro San Diego Chargers Land Grant Universities Jason Jaramillo, The purpose of the land grant college was to make college education more accessible to the common man. Pittsburgh Pirates In the early to mid 1800’s only the elite could afford an advanced education, but all of that began to Jeff Salazar, Pittsburgh Pirates change in 1857 wit h Vermont Congressman Justin Morrill. Morrill introduced the “College Land Bill” to John Smith, 1988 and Congress which eventually became the Morrill Act of 1862. This Act gave each state a grant of 30,000 1992 Olympic wrestling acres of public land for each member of congress in that state. The states then sold the land and used the gold medalist and current money to institute colleges in engineering, agriculture and military science. OSU wrestling coach Kevin Williams, Pro Bowl Other provisions of the original Morrill Act include the Hatch Act of 1887, The Second Morrill Act of 1890 2005, Minnesota Vikings and the Smith-Lever Act of 1914. The Hatch Act of 1887 authorized federal funding for agricultural Luke Scott, Baltimore experiment stations connected to each land grant university. The Second Morrill Act of 1890 required each Orioles Michele Smith, 1996 state to show that race was not a criteria for admission, or to designate a separate land grant institution Olympic softball gold for persons of color. The Smith-Lever Act of 1914 established a system of cooperative extension services medalist connected to the land grant universities in order to inform people about modern improvements in Mickey Tettleton, Texas economics, agriculture, home economics and related areas. Rangers, retired R.W. McQuarters, School Colors Chicago Bears OSU’s colors were the first chosen in the late 1890’s. The selection of orange and black was a tribute to a Rashaun Woods, San popular faculty member whose father was a Princeton graduate. Students adopted Princeton’s orange and Francisco 49ers Robin Ventura, New York black colors and some of the school's first athletic teams were even referred to as the “Tigers” in the early Yankees 1900’s. Scott Baker, Minnesota Twins Pistol Pete Scott Richmond, Toronto A tradition was born in the early 1920’s when OSU (then Oklahoma A&M College) began searching for a Blue Jays new mascot. The true roots of Pistol Pete go back more than a century ago. Pistol Pete is more than a Scott Verplank, PGA Tour character, he is a legend. Tatum Bell, Denver Broncos Thurman Thomas, Buffalo The character of OSU’s mascot, Pistol Pete, originated from an actual person named Frank B. Eaton. Eaton’s Bills, retired life began in 1860 in Hartford, Connecticut. Soon after his birth, Eaton and his Tony Allen, Boston Celtics family moved to Kansas shortly after the Civil War.

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Business Leaders Eaton's life would take a dramatic turn at the age of eight when he witnessed T. Boone Pickens, the murder of his father by six vigilantes. From that moment on, Eaton was chairman of BP Capital Management determined to even the score. He practiced his marksmanship until the age of Charles Eitel, retired 15, when he set out to search for his father’s killers. It took Eaton more than president / owner of five years to track down and kill the men who had taken his father away, Sealy Mattresses forever changing the course of his life. Chuck Watson, former Dynegy president The title of “cowboy” came naturally to Eaton as indicated in the roles in which Ed Malzahn, founder and he served throughout his life. Frank B. Eaton was given the nickname of “Pistol inventor of Ditch Witch Pete” after beating out many cavalry competitors in a marksmanship contest at Ed Roberts, “father of the personal computer” Ft. Gibson. He served as a U.S. Deputy Marshall under “hanging judge” Isaac Helen Newman Roche, Parker. Later in his life Eaton owned a blacksmith shop which served the retired executive vice surrounding communities. president for Gulfstream Communications In the 1920’S, Eaton was involved in the Armistice Day Parade and OSU’s Homecoming Parade. This well Wayne Allen, former known and admired cowboy died in 1958. That same year Charlie Lester appeared as OSU’s first Pistol Pete chairman and CEO of mascot. Where Frank B. Eaton served as a strong symbol of the Old West then, “Pistol Pete” serves as a Phillips Petroleum symbol of the cowboy spirit now and forever. Entertainment Chester Gould, creator of The Spirit Rider Dick Tracy The Spirit Rider Statue is a symbol of pride that stands as a tribute to the Spirit Rider who rallies fans on Garth Brooks, country football game days and to the spirit of the Old West on which OSU was founded. Sculpted by world- music superstar renowned American West artist Jim Hamilton, the piece was commissioned by the OSU Foundation and James Marsden, actor installed on campus in 1994. (Cyclops in “X-Men” movies) Matthew Mungle, Oscar- The Spirit Rider became the unofficial emblem of Oklahoma State following the January 2001 plane crash winning special effects claiming the lives of 10 cowboys affiliated with the men's basketball program. Flowers, cards, thoughts and artist prayers surround this strong symbol of campus, bringing the OSU family even closer together. The strength Scott Hendricks, and spirit of the university were celebrated nationwide in March of 2004 when the Spirit Rider served as a president of Virgin backdrop for the launching of ESPNU. The Spirit Rider is a visual testament of the traditions, history and Records heart of the cowboy; loyal and true. Tim DuBois, president of

Arista Records Songs, Hymns and Chants Government / Military “Proud and Immortal,” Oklahoma State University’s Alma Mater was written by Robert McCulloh in 1957. In Don Nickles, U.S. addition, OSU’s spirit songs include the "Waving Song," adapted from the song “In Old New York” from the Senator, Minority Whip 1906 operetta The Red Mill, and the perennial favorite, "Ride ‘Em Cowboys." Duck-Woo Nam, former

Prime Minister of the To listen to all the OSU songs performed by the Cowboy Marching Band, click here. Republic of Korea Frank Lucas, U.S. Congressman Alma Mater Henry Bellmon, former Proud and immortal, bright shines your name; Oklahoma Governor and Oklahoma State, we herald your fame! U.S. Senator Ever you’ll find us, loyal and true; Joe Allbaugh, former To our Alma Mater, O-S-U! Bush campaign director

and director of FEMA Waving Song Major General Randall Rigby, former Oklahoma State! Okahoma State! Commanding Officer of We'll sing your praise tonight; Fort Sill To let you know where e're we go, Mary Fallin, U.S. House For the Orange and Black we'll fight of Representatives We'll sing your worth o'er all the Earth Robert Whitney, former And shout: Ki Yi! Ki Ye! Deputy Surgeon General In books of fame we'll write your name, of U.S. Oklahoma State! Wes Watkins, U.S. House of Representatives Ride 'Em Cowboys Spiritual / Human Values Ride, ride, ride, ride, Benjamin Harjo, award- Ride 'em Cowboys, winning Native American Right down the field; artist

Bill Oden, bishop of the United Methodist Church Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Brent Ashabranner, Fight 'em Cowboys, and never yield.

founder of Peace Corp / Ride, ride, ride, ride, children’s author

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Ride on, Cowboys, to victory; Cross (opponent)'s goal; Then we'll sing "O-kla-homa State!"

OSU Chant Go! Go! Go Pokes! Go Pokes! Go Pokes! Go! O! S! U! OSU, the greatest in the nation! OSU, the team that's got the go spirit and the will to win. Make a score and we'll shout, "Beat (opponent)!" OSU, it's orange and black we're cheering on to victory today, and so we'll say: O-K-L-A-H-O-M-A! STATE! Univer-si-ty!

The Band The first Oklahoma A&M College Band was organized in 1905 by an A&M student. It consisted of 22 members who provided their own instruments, music and uniforms. Originally, only men were allowed to play in the band. By 1936, women were in every section of the concert band were not allowed to march. In 1946, a marching band for girls formed, and in 1955 the two bands were combined into one "Aggie Band." Today's OSU band program consists of multiple bands with more than 400 participants.

Theta Pond The pond used at the turn of the century to water the college work animals eventually took its name from the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, then located nearby. Theta Pond has witnessed many “memorable” moments. Freshmen were often thrown into the pond, as were students who became “pinned” or engaged. In the early years, classes and colleges held tug-of-war competitions across the pond, with the losers getting a dunking!

Edmon Low Library When one thinks of OSU symbols of academia, scholarship and orange pride come to mind. In the heart of the OSU campus is the Edmon Low library which was completed in 1953. Before the Edmon Low building was established, OSU’s library was housed in Old Central in 1894, the Williams Building in 1901 and the Library Building in 1921.

Named after former library director Edmon Low, the library continues to be one of the top 100 academic research libraries in the U.S. In 2003, the library celebrated its 50th anniversary with the theme: “That was then….This is Now”. The Edmon Low library has progressed with the times to include additional services, collections and advances in technology. To view the library's website, click here.

Athletics OSU has a proud tradition of excellence in athletics. Track became the first organized sport at OAMC, with women’s basketball second. Today, OSU participates in 17 intercollegiate sports and holds an impressive 50 NCAA titles, ranking fourth in the number of NCAA Championships won by a university.

Bedlam Bedlam, also known as the oldest football rivalry between two state teams, began in 1904 between the Sooners and the Cowboys. The tradition of the Bedlam bell clapper was born in 1917 when OSU and the University of Oklahoma met in Oklahoma City, and the "Aggies" caused an upset over the Sooners, 9-0. That night the bell in the tower of Old Central rang out across Stillwater announcing the victory over the Sooners. By the time the fans who had attended the game arrived back in town, the townspeople and students still in town had started a torch-light parade.

All night the Old Central bell rang with a student relay pulling the bell rope. OU students stole the clapper from the bell tower during the Bedlam game of 1932; however, Cowboy spirit prevailed and the bell still rang out using a sledge hammer announcing OSU's victory over the Sooners. OSU students later stole the clapper back, but OU claimed it to be the wrong one- a clapper from a Norman church. In 1966, a compromise was made and the bell clapper that once hung in the bell of Old Central became the symbolic trophy in the Bedlam Game. The tradition of the Bell Clapper continues today but in a different form- a crystal bell given to the winning school of the Bedlam series.

Class Ring Tradition Graduates owning an Official OSU Class Ring take a tangible symbol with them

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wherever they go, and can easily recognize each other as fellow graduates. The ring, the only one authorized by Oklahoma State University, is copyrighted to protect it from duplication. The ring can only be purchased by graduates of OSU or by students who have completed at least 60 hours and have achieved junior or senior standing. Click here to go to the Official OSU Class Ring page.

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