Oregon daily emerald., September 20, 1982, University Section, Page 27, Image 26

University architecture spans 100 years
The styles vary from baroque
to the latest in modern cubism
By Tom Visoky
Of the Emerald
The University is not particularly noted
for its architectural innovations
Nevertheless, it is a visually appealing
campus with buildings representing a
variety of architectural styles
For those who fret about the budget,
some of these buildings are mute tes
timonies to the University's ability to
survive periods of economic hardship
For example, Deady Hall, the oldest
and most venerable edifice on campus is
a grizzled survivor of the University 's first
and noblest financial struggle Excava
tion for Deady Hall began May 7, 1873 on
a barren knoll just outside Eugene's city
limits
Construction progressed rapidly at
first but soon ground to a halt as funds
dried up. The situation seemed grim and
many of the building's supporters de
spaired of ever finishing the job But a
few men, led by Judge Joshua Walton,
mounted a vigorous campaign to raise
the funds needed to complete the build
ing
The county grange donated thou
sands of bushels of wheat which were
sold for funds and young children dug
into their piggy banks to support the
cause
Nonetheless, paydays often found the
judge penniless On those occasions he
would leave his office and scour the
surrounding countryside, soliciting don
ations from local farmers, frequently
returning with boxes of apples, bushels
of wheat and a calf or pig in tow The
animals and produce were sold by gen
eral store manager, Thomas Hendricks,
and the proceeds were turned over to
pay the laborers
Thanks to Walton's perseverance,
Deady Hall was finally completed and
approved by the state board of regents in
July, 1876
The building itself — a classic example
of Second Empire Baroque — was built to
last Its brick walls, made from clay dug
from a pit where MacArthur Court now
stands, are three feet thick in the base
ment tapering off to two feet thick above
ground
Villard Hall — also Second Empire
Baroque — is. indirectly, the product of
another early financial crisis Built in
1886, it is named in honor of Northern
Pacific Railroad tycoon, Henry Villard.
Photo by Mark Pynes
Oregon Hall, built in 1973, is an example of cubist design.
Photo by Mark Pynes
Deady Hall was completed and dedicated in July, 1876
who rescued the University from bank
ruptcy in 1881 His donation of $50,000 in
Northern Pacific bonds two years later
enabled the school to get solidly on its
financial feet
Gerlinger Hall, Hendricks Hall and
Susan Campbell Hall are probably the
most architecturally unified buildings on
campus Georgian in style these build
ings were erected during a period of
frantic construction between 1918-1921
Gerlinger Hall, which houses the
swanky Alumni social hall, a gymnasium,
swimming pool and assorted class
rooms, is yet another product of a ten
acious, fund-raisier/lobbier, Mrs
George Gerlinger
In 1915 Gerlinger began collecting
donations for a building which would
house all the University's women's ac
tivities and, simultaneously, serve as a
center for receptions and other formal
occasions By 1919 she had raised more
than $50,000 from hundreds of small
contributors This sum was matched by
$100,000 from the state legislature and
another $50,000 in private donations
When the soaring costs of labor and
materials threatened to halt construc
tion, Gerlinger and other supporters of
the project secured another $50,000
from the legislature and an equal amount
from the millage tax to complete the
building.
The Museum of Art, an example of
Lombardic architecture built in 1931,
was a gift from University Alumni and
friends One of the primary contributors,
Gertrude Bass Warner, also donated the
Murray Warner Collection of Oriental Art
on display on the second floor
With the advent of FDR 's New Deal, the
University, through the use of Public
Works Administration (PWA) labor, ac
quired four new buildings: Esslinger Hall
(1936), Chapman Hall (1939), the Vol
canology Center (1935), which served as
the infirmary, and the crown jewel, the
University Library (1937).
On June 11, 1948 members of the
class of ‘23, at their 25th reunion, turned
the the first spade earth for the new
Student Union, which the 1923 Emerald
had called a " Dream of the Future.'1
The initial movement for a student
union fell apart in 1926, but the dream
was revived again in 1939 by University
President Dr.Donald Erb in whose honor
the building is named.
Erb’s plans for erecting the building
were temporarily shelved after his death
in 1943. But in 1947 the University,
through a combination of numerous
private gifts and student building fees,
raised the $1,500,000 needed to start the
project. And in 1950 the University
dedicated what was then recognized as
one of the finest student unions in the
country.
Oregon Hall, an example of modern
Cube architecture, is the newest addition
to the University's major buildings family
Built in 1973, it houses the University
business offices.
TEETH
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