Waller Hall

Infobox_nrhp | name = Waller Hall

---

caption = Waller Hall in the springtime
location = Salem, Oregon
nearest_city =
lat_degrees = 44 | lat_minutes = 56 | lat_seconds = 14 | lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 123 | long_minutes = 1 | long_seconds = 51 | long_direction = W
built = 1864-1867
architecture= Renaissance, Other
added = November 20, 1975 (as Waller Hall, Willamette University)
governing_body = Willamette University
refnum=75001593cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2007-01-23|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]

Waller Hall is the oldest building on the campus of Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, United States. Built in 1867 as University Hall, the five-story, red-brick structure was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. [cite web | title = Oregon National Register List | publisher = Oregon Parks & Recreation Dept.: Heritage Programs: National Register | url= http://www.oregon.gov/OPRD/HCD/NATREG/docs/oregon_nr_list.pdf | accessdate = 2007-08-31 | format = PDF ] The building has been gutted twice by fires with the interior rebuilt each time, and went through renovations in 1987 to 1989 and again in 2005.

Built in the Renaissance style of architecture, it is currently used for administration offices and is the oldest university building west of the Mississippi in the U.S. still in use. Waller Hall is located on the north end of campus opposite the Oregon State Capitol building across State Street. Designed in the shape of a Greek cross, each side has the same measurements and the top has a cupola.

History

Background

Due to a variety of factors, including the deterioration of the main campus building dating from 1844 and the need for additional space, the university considered building a new building designed specifically for the university beginning in the 1850s.Hines, Gustavus. "Oregon and Its Institutions; Comprising a Full History of the Willamette University". Carlton & Porter, 1868.] Then on October 3 1860, the board of trustees for the school resolved to begin the process of building a new primary hall to be used by the university. Reverend Alvin F. Waller was placed in charge of the efforts to raise the funds needed for a building. However, this was unsuccessful and on November 19 1862, the board again passed a resolution calling for a new structure and forming a committee of Waller, Gustavus Hines, Josiah Lamberson Parrish, J. Lamson, and John H. Moores to prepare plans.

On December 2 1862, the trustees authorized subscriptions to be solicited and paid to Waller with a goal of $20,000. On May 20 1863, the board met again and learned that $12,800 had been pledged and the board then set up a building committee of Waller, Hines, Moores, E.N. Cook, and Thomas Milton Gatch. It was mainly through the efforts of the Reverend Waller that the hall was built.cite web| last = Gibby| first = Susan| title = Willamette University| publisher = Salem Online History| url = http://www.salemhistory.net/education/willamette_university.htm| accessdate = 2007-03-12] Several designs were then considered for the new building, and on February 22 1864, by a vote of 16 to 1 the board selected the final plan that called for a brick building with a stone foundation. The foundation was to rise to a level three feet above the ground to prevent moisture from the ground seeping into the bricks.

Construction

Construction of the new building began in February 1864 with excavation of the basement. This was on the north section of Willamette’s campus in downtown Salem.cite web| url = http://www.eesinet.com/WillametteUniv.pdf | title = EESI: Waller Hall Renovation: Mechanical Design | accessdate = 2007-08-31] Then on July 24 1864, the cornerstone of the building was laid into place in a ceremony. The President of the Board of Trustees, David Leslie, laid the cornerstone of the hall. [http://www.open.org/~pioneerc/pg26.html#LeslDavi132 David Leslie.] Salem Pioneer Cemetery. Retrieved on August 31, 2007.] This ceremony included a time capsule and a speech by Governor A. C. Gibbs.

All of the bricks used in the construction were fired on campus using clay excavated from the construction site in order to build the foundation. The builders ordered 500,000 bricks total for the construction project.cite journal
last = Walton
first = Elisabeth
title = A Note on William W. Piper and Academy Architecture in Oregon in the Nineteenth Century
journal = The Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians
volume = 32
issue = 3
pages = 231–238
publisher =
date = Oct. 1973
url =
doi = 10.2307/988795
accessdate = 2007-03-11 ] Construction was completed in 1867 and the building was named University Hall. [http://www.willamette.edu/tour/tour_flash.php Campus Tour] . Willamette University. Retrieved on August 31, 2007.] The school “marched” from the old school building to the new and began using it on October 21 1867.

Total costs for the building were $40,000 at occupation with a need for approximately an additional $17,000 to finish and furnish the building. The building was first used for classrooms, a library, parlors, recitation rooms, and some physical education in the attic. Also in the early years the structure housed the chapel services of the school, and some temporary accommodations for students. [http://hcap.artstor.org/cgi-bin/library?a=d&d=p2239 Historic Campus Architecture Project: Waller Hall.] The Council of Independent Colleges. Retrieved on October 1 2008.]

Later years

The old school building, the Oregon Institute, burned down in December 1872 leaving University Hall as the only building on campus.Cowger, Wright. "The First Hundred Years: 1834-1934 Willamette University from Jason Lee to Carl Doney". Willamette University, 1981.] Thus all departments were housed in the building including the College of Law from 1884 to 1923 when it moved to Eaton Hall and the Medical School from 1867 until 1880 when it moved to Portland. [Swenson, Eric. "Willamette University College of Law: The First Hundred Years: An Illustrated History". Willamette University College of Law, 1987.] University Hall remained the only permanent campus building from 1872 when the Oregon Institute building burned down until 1906 when the Medical Building (now Art Building) was built. Other school buildings such as the first Lausanne Hall were located off campus.

On September 16 1891, University Hall, the school's first brick building, caught on fire.1840-1990 Keepsake Edition: Willamette University. "Statesman Journal", October 26, 1990.] As a result of the fire the top two floors of the building were destroyed including the roof. The building was then re-built after the 1891 fire, but unlike the original plans it was constructed with a Mansard style roof. Additionally, a square tower was also built on top in lieu of the original cupola which included a school bell. [ [http://photos.salemhistory.org/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/sj&CISOPTR=969&REC=3 Historic Photographs Collection] . Salem Public Library. Retrieved on August 31, 2007.] From its construction until 1987, Waller Hall was used as an academic hall and hosted classes along with housing the school's chapel and as offices for the faculty.

In 1912, Willamette renamed the building in honor of the Reverend Alvan (Alvin) F. Waller who was instrumental in getting the hall built. Then on December 17 1919, another fire swept through Waller Hall. This second fire completely gutted the five-story building, but the exterior walls remained intact. The Mansard roof and square tower were destroyed in the fire. The university rebuilt the hall the following year, and used the original plans that included the round cupola but omitted the Mansard style roof and the square tower topping the structure.

There was some discussion of demolishing the hall in the 1980s after the structure had become dilapidated. One proposal called for building a replica on the same site as the original, but school administrators opted to renovate Waller Hall. From November 1987 to November 1989 the convert|25000|sqft|m2|sing=on building went through a $2.26 million renovation. This renovation addressed interior issues with the building including seismic upgrades in the event of a large magnitude earthquake.De Carbonel, Dan. Waller Hall renovation covers next 100 years. "Statesman Journal", August 16, 2005.] These renovations also turned the attic into an office suite for the school’s president. After renovations in 1988 the building was used for university administration offices. Further renovations were completed in 2005 at a cost of $1.3 million to upgrade the 100-year-old windows to newer energy efficient models, repair the brick, fix leaks, install skylights, re-painting, and a slight lightening of the exterior red-brick coloring.

Architecture

Waller Hall was built in the Renaissance style of architecture. This red brick building was designed in the same proportions as a Greek cross. Bishop Janes was responsible for proposing this use of the cross shape for the building. Each of the two wings is convert|84|ft|m long and convert|44|ft|m wide with aedicule porches on the west, east, and north ends of the building. Originally, the building was convert|100|ft|m tall as measured from the base of the building to the top of the dome. The distance from the eaves of the structure to the base is convert|50|ft|m. The basement of the building is convert|12|ft|m high and the first floor convert|16|ft|m high. The foundation is made of stone and the roof has composition shingles. Both the second and third floors are convert|12|ft|m tall. The hall has a cupola topping the structure. Other details include pilasters, dentils, and brick corbelling on the exterior and circular stairways on the interior.

Currently

Waller Hall houses alumni relations, the school’s business office, human resources for the university, the office of communications, university relations, the President’s office, and other administrative functions. Additionally, Cone Chapel is on the building's second floor and seats 300. Cone Chapel features over a dozen stained glass windows [Cowan, Ron. The history of the delicate designs adds to their mystique. "Statesman Journal", June 16, 2002.] and a classic pipe organ. [ [http://home.teleport.com/~wkrueger/organ/cone.html Pipe Organs of Portland, Oregon: Cone Chapel] , Accessed: August 31 2007] The chapel is occasionally used for commencement ceremonies, lectures, and concerts at the school. [ [http://blog.willamette.edu/news/archives/2001/04/willamette_to_g.php Willamette to Graduate First Class in State of Oregon Certificate of Public Management] , Willamette University, April 1, 2001. Accessed August 31 2007] Waller Hall sits in the north central part of campus directly opposite of the Oregon State Capitol. Waller Hall is the oldest university building west of the Mississippi River still in use in the United States.

In 1992, during the university's sesquicentennial, the United States Postal Service issued a postal card that featured an image of Waller Hall. Featuring a watercolor painting by George C. Warner of Eugene, Oregon, these 19 cent postcards were part of the Postal Service’s Historic Preservation Series. [Hill, Jim. Salem’s Willamette University celebrates 150 years of learning. "The Oregonian", January 31, 1992.]

Timeline

ee also

*Oregon Institute
*Methodist Mission

References

External links

* [http://photos.salemhistory.org/cdm4/results.php?CISOOP1=all&CISOBOX1=&CISOFIELD1=title&CISOOP2=exact&CISOBOX2=Waller%20Hall&CISOFIELD2=subjec&CISOOP3=any&CISOBOX3=&CISOFIELD3=descri&CISOOP4=none&CISOBOX4=&CISOFIELD4=audiena&CISOROOT=all Historic photos of Waller Hall] from Salem Public Library, including the 1891 and 1919 fires
* [http://home.teleport.com/~wkrueger/organ/cone.html Cone Chapel's pipe organ]