Old Main (Utah State University)
Encyclopedia
Old Main was the first building built on the campus of the Agricultural College of Utah, now Utah State University
. It sits at the top of Old Main Hill, overlooking the city of Logan
to the west, and facing the quad to the east. Old Main is the oldest still-functioning academic building in Utah
.
bench south of town, the Board of Trustees for the new college met in Logan
on March 26, 1889 to discuss the placement of buildings on a hillside and plot of land donated by the Logan City Council. The Board approved the current site unanimously, and on April 15, selected the proposal of architect C. L. Thompson for a "College Building" to be constructed. Excavation began and the cornerstone was laid on July 27, 1889, and the south wing of the building was completed on February 22, 1890.
The original building cost $20,305 and spanned 270 by 100 feet. The plans were soon redrawn by Logan architect Karl Conrad Schaub, however, and the central wing was expanded substantially, whereas under Thompson's plans, it had served merely as a hallway between the north and south wings. The entirety of the building was finished by 1902, with the front door originally facing west, overlooking the Cache Valley
. At this time, the building contained the entirety of the college. Over the years, as campus has expanded, portions of the building have served many purposes, ranging from classrooms to administration to a makeshift hospital during the Spanish Flu
epidemic in 1919. In its history, the building has housed nearly every department on campus.
A single hand-rung bell was installed in Old Main tower in 1904, and additional bells were added in 1914 and 1915. Though the originals were replaced with an electronic carillon in 1978, the tower continues to chime at 15-minute intervals throughout each day.
Old Main was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1972.
The A also serves as an alternative to the mountainside letters which represent many colleges and high schools throughout the state of Utah. Various student-led campaigns throughout the university's history have sought to construct a block "A" on one of many nearby mountains, most notably in 1947 and again in the 2000s. A compromise following the 1947 initiative led to the construction of a temporary A on the mountain south of Logan Canyon
that was illuminated for special events during the 1950s and '60s, as the state's permanent fixtures were deemed "tacky".
During the summer of 2010 the A was upgraded to use LED technology. Both the white and blue lights are now more brilliant.
Utah State University
Utah State University is a public university located in Logan, Utah. It is a land-grant and space-grant institution and is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities....
. It sits at the top of Old Main Hill, overlooking the city of Logan
Logan, Utah
-Layout of the City:Logan's city grid originates from its Main and Center Street block, with Main Street running north and south, and Center east and west. Each block north, east, south, or west of the origin accumulates in additions of 100 , though some streets have non-numeric names...
to the west, and facing the quad to the east. Old Main is the oldest still-functioning academic building in Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
.
History
After rejecting a site on the ProvidenceProvidence, Utah
Providence is a city in Cache County, Utah, United States. The population was 7,075 at the 2010 census. It is included in the Logan, Utah-Idaho Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Providence is located at ....
bench south of town, the Board of Trustees for the new college met in Logan
Logan, Utah
-Layout of the City:Logan's city grid originates from its Main and Center Street block, with Main Street running north and south, and Center east and west. Each block north, east, south, or west of the origin accumulates in additions of 100 , though some streets have non-numeric names...
on March 26, 1889 to discuss the placement of buildings on a hillside and plot of land donated by the Logan City Council. The Board approved the current site unanimously, and on April 15, selected the proposal of architect C. L. Thompson for a "College Building" to be constructed. Excavation began and the cornerstone was laid on July 27, 1889, and the south wing of the building was completed on February 22, 1890.
The original building cost $20,305 and spanned 270 by 100 feet. The plans were soon redrawn by Logan architect Karl Conrad Schaub, however, and the central wing was expanded substantially, whereas under Thompson's plans, it had served merely as a hallway between the north and south wings. The entirety of the building was finished by 1902, with the front door originally facing west, overlooking the Cache Valley
Cache Valley
The Cache Valley is an agricultural valley of northern Utah and southeast Idaho that includes the Logan metropolitan area. The valley was used by 19th century mountain men and was the site of the 1863 Bear River Massacre.-History:...
. At this time, the building contained the entirety of the college. Over the years, as campus has expanded, portions of the building have served many purposes, ranging from classrooms to administration to a makeshift hospital during the Spanish Flu
Spanish flu
The 1918 flu pandemic was an influenza pandemic, and the first of the two pandemics involving H1N1 influenza virus . It was an unusually severe and deadly pandemic that spread across the world. Historical and epidemiological data are inadequate to identify the geographic origin...
epidemic in 1919. In its history, the building has housed nearly every department on campus.
A single hand-rung bell was installed in Old Main tower in 1904, and additional bells were added in 1914 and 1915. Though the originals were replaced with an electronic carillon in 1978, the tower continues to chime at 15-minute intervals throughout each day.
Old Main was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1972.
Current usage
In addition to university administration and many central offices, Old Main currently houses the main offices for the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, and many of its departments, such as history, political science, foreign languages, philosophy, sociology, social work, and anthropology."A" Light
The first block "A" light was USU's first senior gift, awarded by the graduating class of 1909. It measures 12 by 14 feet and originally contained 146 candlelight bulbs. The original A was affixed to the west side of the tower, so as to be seen throughout the entire valley, and the remaining three A's were added to the tower in later years. The "A" can be seen for miles around, shining white on most nights, and blue on special nights such as Homecoming and Commencement, and when certain athletic teams have been victorious.The A also serves as an alternative to the mountainside letters which represent many colleges and high schools throughout the state of Utah. Various student-led campaigns throughout the university's history have sought to construct a block "A" on one of many nearby mountains, most notably in 1947 and again in the 2000s. A compromise following the 1947 initiative led to the construction of a temporary A on the mountain south of Logan Canyon
Logan Canyon
Logan Canyon is a canyon that cuts its way through the Bear River Mountains, a branch of the Wasatch Range, in northeastern Utah. The canyon is popular for both summer and winter activities, especially rock-climbing, hiking, camping, fishing, snowmobiling, and skiing, at the Beaver Mountain ski...
that was illuminated for special events during the 1950s and '60s, as the state's permanent fixtures were deemed "tacky".
During the summer of 2010 the A was upgraded to use LED technology. Both the white and blue lights are now more brilliant.