Old Main History

SOME INTERESTING HISTORY CONCERNING OLD MAIN

OLD MAIN:
When did Old Main become Old Main?

"OLD MAIN" 1908:
   A room-by-room description of Old Main published in 1908.
       Exterior appearance in 1908
       Section 1 (1898 Building) College Hall
       Section 2 (1870 Building) College Hall
       Section 3 (1899 Building) Normal School/Academic Building
       Section 4 (1896 Building) Academic Building
       Section 5 (1907 Building) Academic/Adminstration Building

HISTORY OF MARSHALL ACADEMY AND MARSHALL COLLEGE
    Virgil Lewis' history of Marshall University's early years [Adobe Acrobat .pdf document]

FORGOTTEN CAMPUS LANDMARKS ASSOCIATED WITH OLD MAIN

THE BEECH TREE:
   A centuries-old tree that once stood in front of Old Main.
             Cora Teel, " The Beech Tree "
             Photographs: The Leafless Tree; The Trunk; Initials; Stump
The Grand Mace. The Beech Tree lives in this object.

THE RAVINE:
   A long forgotten small brook that once flowed east of Old Main.
             Marie White, " The Ravine "
             Erville Sowards, " The Ravine "
             1905 Catalog, " The Ravine "
             Photographs: Ravine; Ravine

THE OLD SYCAMORE TREE:
    A massive tree south of College Hall.
             Photographs: Winter; Under the tree

THE ROSE GARDEN:
    A beautiful garden plot east of College Hall.

THE CANNAE BEDS:
    Colorful beds of flowers south of College Hall.
              Girls among the Cannae Beds;   More Girls;  and even More Girls
             The Cannae Beds from the Southeast and Southwest

THE TERRACE:
    The rise of land on Marshall College's north side.
             Photographs: Girls on the Terrace; Stairs; View West; View East

COLLEGE HALL VERANDA:
    The spacious veranda on the north side of College Hall.
             Photographs: Veranda; Veranda; Porch; Porch; Path; Veranda today

THE OLD CAMPUS TREES:
    Marshall College's Old Campus on its northeastern side.

THE YOUNG MEN'S ATHLETIC GROUNDS:
    Marshall College's athletic field.

LITERARY SOCIETIES THAT MET IN OLD MAIN

THE EROSOPHIAN LITERARY SOCIETY:
One of Marshall's first literary societies.

THE VIRGINIAN LITERARY SOCIETY:
Another literary society.

OLD MAIN AND FOUR OF ITS FLOODS

THE 1913 FLOOD:
   The first major flood of the twentieth century hits Marshall.
THE 1933 FLOOD:
   A second flood inundates the campus.
THE 1936 FLOOD:
   Yet another flood inundates the campus.
THE 1937 FLOOD:
   The Ohio River rose high enough to flood the basement of Old Main.