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Home My WebLink AboutOld Main Society Presentation 12.09.1994 OLD MAIN SOCIETY December 9, 1994 Presentation to Community Appearance and Historic Preservation Old Main Society was formed in September of 1994 in order to give students a voice on the issues concerning the ever - changing campus and surrounding areas. The initial mission statement is as follows: The Old Main Society functions to preserve, enhance, and interpret the history, integrity, architecture, character, and beauty of the campus and adjacent property. This committee is named after the first building on campus. It was completed in 1875 on the current site of the Academic building. The original red -brick buildings are recorded in stark contrast to the modern beige -brick buildings on campus. It is important to realize that this committee is not just about buildings. Old Main Society has many areas of concern, as stated in the mission statement. On the other hand, the old buildings influence the character, image, and integrity of the physical campus more than anything else. The Bush Library/Museum, the Special Events Center, and the Big 12 conference will all factor into changing the campus and it's immediate environs as we know them. As you know, plans are underway to demolish Law Hall (1927), Puryear Hall (1927), Deware Fieldhouse (1924), and Downs Natatorium (1932). The only reason the English Annex (1922) is still standing is because of its small footprint on campus, proximity to the utility plant, and most importantly, the fact student groups wanted to use the space from time to time. The Sports Rec Center (1995) will make Deware and Downs obsolete for their current functions, but this does not mean these unique structures cannot be renovated for new uses. I was told demolition of the two buildings will cost over $500,000. Certainly we can do something more positive at that price. Brainstorming makes the possibilities seem almost limitless. Deware Fieldhouse Renovation Ideas: Aggie Sports Museum SWC Museum 1914 -1996 Large offices for student organizations that currently have only cubicle space or nothing at all Dorm for students with classes on West Campus Overflow Diamond- Vision viewing facility for football fans when game is sold out (At current capacity this will happen often when Big 12 conference play begins) Campus Ice Rink for recreation Ice Rink for future Texas A &M hockey team Alternative sports facility Dance club for under 21 students (Most freshmen, sophomores, and some juniors) Downs Natatorium Renovation Ideas: Alternative Silent (Solitary) Study Area Locker space for students living off - campus Small offices for student organizations that currently have only cubicle space or nothing at all We are working on ideas for all four of these threatened structures, but our immediate concern is Law and Puryear, since they are slated to be demolished this summer. At the very beginning, Old Main Society saw five options: 1) Renovate the dorms for central campus student housing. 2) Vacate and lock the dorms until funds are available to restore them. 3) Carefully raze the dorms and develop a remnant park. 4) Allow students to continue living in dorms in their current state. 5) Completely demolish the dorms as if they never existed. Old Main Society did not support the last two options. Neither option required much thought, respect, or creativity. It will probably cost over $300,000 to demolish Law and Puryear. Is this money well spent? The first three options, however, were promising. The first required money now, while the second required money at some future point in time. The third option would raise the cost of demolition. It is viable since one plan for the site is green space. At this time I understand there is no hope to save Law and Puryear. This leaves the third option. A remnant park for Law and Puryear would incorporate the cornerstones and portions of the historical facades, ramps, arches, and other architectural elements into the landscape. Joe Ag, class of `40, could still show his grandsons where he lived the greatest days of his life. We are working with a committee from Student Affairs to preserve the memory of Law and Puryear. Plans are to have architecture students design several proposals for remnant parks. Four prominent structures are slated to be razed in the mid 1990's. Four earlier structures were razed in the mid to early 1950's; Pfeuffer (1887), Austin (1888), Ross (1891), and Foster Hall (1899). There was no Old Main Society at that time to ask the administration to save the relics from another century. They were demolished as planned. I'm sure you see the parallel. Ask any Aggie today if these old buildings should have been saved forty years ago. I believe the majority would answer yes. In 2035, Old Main Society members can ask Aggies if Law, Puryear, DeWare, and Downs should have been saved. Again, I think the majority would answer yes. The problem then lies in asking those in control at the point of no return to reconsider the future implications and fmality of demolishing these historic buildings. I hope there is a possibility to add Old Main Society to the roster of Executive Committees in Student Government. As a three year member of Muster Committee, I can envision Old Main Society fitting in with all the committees. One easily can see how it complements Parents' Weekend, Traditions Council, and the Muster Committee. Other Ideas: Demand more communication from A &M Administration on campus plans and changes before it is too late Better and safer crossing across University Ave. from Northside dorms to Northgate Less streets through campus. I understand a pedestrian mall and park will replace Lubbock St. (Runs in front of Corps Arches Plaza past the Commons) Best use of cornerstones from original buildings (Brass plaques were stolen off these while they were in storage last year in a Hensel Park greenhouse. Certainly we can find more suitable places to store campus artifacts. I have heard these cornerstones will be used in an arrangement at the proposed Development Foundation building). Greening of unnecessary asphalt and concrete areas on campus Moving Amtrak station to proposed reconstruction of 1883 Depot across Wellborn west of the Albritton Belitower 1910 model of campus when Old Main and Mess Hall were still standing Revolving endowment to save designated buildings on campus Class Gifts designated to save historic buildings More intense landscaping Statue at Bolton Hall to mark first ever play -by -play radio college football broadcast Old Main Society platform communicated to Board of Regents, Physical Plant, Facilities and Planning, President's Office Selection of Faculty Advisory Panel Increase membership and awareness Determine feasibility of reconstructing Old Main, Ross Hall, or Gathright. Can any of the buildings from the 1800's be reconstructed in their original sites? Old Main cannot because the Academic Building is on that site. What other possibilities exist? Develop esplanades (medians) with trees ,grass, and statues on the streets bordering the campus Demand more parking (Perhaps the current administration does not know that most cars in the Mud Lot -$1.75 /day or $97 /semester - also pay for A &M parking hangers) [Note: I realize that this does not seem to fit into the current mission statement, but perhaps we can find a way.] Demand better and more reliable transportation from East to West campus - Perhaps this could be accomplished by bringing back the Interurban Trolley (1910)... College of Business relocates to the West Campus Wenner Building for the Spring 1995 semester Matching funds for class gifts A traditional world -class library (Without green and beige carpet on the walls) Cooperate with College Station to improve the aesthetics of the corridors bordering the campus. OLD MAIN SOCIETY BUILDING CHRONOLOGY (As of December 1, 1994) OLD MAIN 1875 1912 Fire GATHRIGHT HALL 1876 1933 Razed FIVE PROF. RESIDENCES 1876 ? Razed DEPOT 1883 ? Razed 1996 Reconstruction PFEUFFER HALL 1887 1954 Razed AUSTIN HALL 1888 1955 Razed ASSEMBLY HALL 1889 1929 Razed PRESIDENT'S HOME 1891 1963 Fire ROSS HALL 1891 1955 Razed MECH. ENG. SHOPS 1892 1920 Fire POWER PLANT 1893 1933 Razed NATATORIUM 1894 1908 Razed INFIRMARY 1895 1916 Razed MESS HALL 1897 1911 Fire FOSTER HALL 1899 1951 Razed AGRI. & HORT. 1900 1963 Razed CHEMISTRY & VET. 1902 1929 Razed BAGLEY HALL 1904 1972 Razed VETERINARY HOSP. 1908 1934 Razed NEW NATATORIUM 1908 1934 Razed GOODWIN HALL 1908 1990 Razed Most recent demolition NAGLE HALL 1909 Extant ANALYTICAL SERV. 1909 Extant LEGETT HALL 1911 Extant MILNER HALL 1911 Extant MITCHELL HALL 1912 1972 Razed BOLTON HALL 1912 Extant 1st football broadcast BOARD OF DIR. 1912 1979 Fire ACADEMIC BLDG. 1914 Extant 1994 - Original windows lost SBISA MESS HALL 1912 Extant YMCA BLDG. 1914 Extant SPECIAL SERV. BLDG. 1916 Extant North of Haas POWER PLANT 1917 Extant PAVILION 1917 Extant SERUM LAB 1917 1972 Razed GUION HALL 1918 1971 Razed Difficult to demolish BIZZELL HALL 1918 Extant FRANCIS HALL 1918 Extant BUTLER BLDG. 1918 Extant FERMIER HALL 1919 Extant PSYCHOLOGY BLDG. 1920 Extant LAUNDRY BLDG. 1920 1966 Razed MILITARY SCIENCE 1920 1933 Razed THOMPSON HALL 1922 Extant ENGLISH ANNEX 1922 Extant AGRICULTURE BLDG. 1922 Extant NEW ASSEMBLY HALL 1923 1953 Razed PEWARE FIELD HOUSE 1924 Extant 1996 Demolition TRIGON 1924 Extant AGGIELAND INN 1925 1966 Razed HEATON HALL 1925 Extant KYLE FIELD 1927 Extant LAW HALL 1927 Extant Summer 1995 Demolition PURYEAR HALL 1927 Extant Summer 1995 Demolition CUSHING LIBRARY 1930 Extant Renovating for Archives HART HALL 1930 Extant q WALTON HALL 1931 Extant TAES ANNEX 1932 Extant ADMIN. BLDG. 1932 Extant HALBOUTY BLDG. 1932 Extant 1972 Tower removed SCOATES HALL 1932 Extant ANIMAL IND. BLDG 1932 Extant DOWNS NATATORIUM 1932 Extant 1996 Demolition ANCHOR HALL 1936 1959 Razed UNIVERSITY POLICE 1937 Extant POST OFFICE 1938 Extant 13 CORPS DORMS 1939 Extant BELL BUILDING 1942 Extant MOSES 1942 Extant MOORE 1942 Extant CROCKER 1942 Extant DAVIS -GARY 1942 Extant THE GROVE 1949 Extant 18 HOLE GOLF 1950 Extant MSC 1950 Extant COKE BLDG. 1951 Extant G. ROLLIE WHITE 1954 Extant ALL FAITHS CHAPEL 1957 Extant ARCH. BLDG. C 1962 Extant PRESIDENT'S HOME 1965 Extant 5