Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutOld Main Society Info 020504b ~e_ 4".~T;::,:T.,TA~O~r-% ~-, ::,,--.,.~''- Aggielifi Hill: Preservation of buildings should be tradition Continued from page 3 Fish Pond? Indeed, the traditions, hopes, feelings and desires of A&M are represented by physical entities. Perhaps the best example of this is Bonfire. Don't we always say that it symbolizes our burning de- sire to beat the hell outta t.u.? Our memories are manifested in concrete things. Texas A&M was officially founded in 1876, as every Univer- sity seal attests. Weare proud of our status as the oldest university in the state. A&M lsys claim to a long her. itage of tradition. Our rich history has infiltrated every aspect of pre- sent-day University life. Yet we have no buildings left on campus that were built before 1909. That isn't because build- ings weren't constructed before the turn of the century though. More than 22 buildings were con- structed during those three decades. But none of them are still standing. More than three decades of ar- chitecture have been lost. Those buildings and all that they con- tained were destroyed - some by fIre, others by demolition. There's no way to get them back. That's a tragedy. Old Main was the fIrst building on campua. It was built in 1875, even before the official founding of this University. It bomed down in 1912 and was replaced by the Academic Building in 1914. The University president's home and the mess hall were oth- er 19th century buildings that -::. . _~- iIir' burned. Other buildings were tween the history of the school tom down because they were old and the actual campus. They go and sometimes falling apart. together hand in hand. With fIres and wrecking balls, "Let's make sure that the cam- part of A&M's history was stolen. pus reflects the traditions and And yet Grundy fondly tells his history of A&M," said Greg Keith, grandchildren about attending graduate student, and founder movies with his cadet buddies at and president of the Old Main So- Guion Hall. ciety, an A&M organization dedi- 'We had movies and other cated to preservation and restora- types of entertainment - plays or tion of the buildings and campus. things like that occasionally. They This organization is trying to were very inexpensive, but in guarantee that the campus does those days, most everything was reflect the history of the institu- inexpensive." tion. by preserving and restoring His family will never be able what is already here, remember- to see Guion Hall, however. It ing what was here and planni.ng was tom down in 1971 to make what will come in the future. way for the Rudder Auditorium. "The reason we're starting """"t,11>W4Iii:l\"""'-""-""Y' ''1\- with and focusing on ..m...... .$_,1\.""."", . w' ,." ..~. the old buildings is to With fires and wreckmg balls, track the history of Part of A&M's history was our campus. It's a . pOInt of reference," stolen. said Keith. .We're a conservative group in the true sense of the It was a magnificent building with impressive columns and stately windows. In its place is Rudder Auditorium - no columns in sight. What a shame. Guion Hall was at one end of the Military Walk, Sbisa was at the other. This graceful stretch of campus was home to beautiful buildings and greenery. Now it has a sunken kiosk station. Military Walk is commemorat- ed with a plaque, but never will Aggies of today truly understand the ritual that went with that part of campus. We cannot forget the bond be- word," They are trying to conserve the campus, as we all should. Although every building need not appear old, we don't want Texas A&M to look like a Hous- ton skyline or a industrial office complex. We are a University and should look like one. "You look at the new dorms and have to ask yourself 'Are these collegiate?'" Keith said. "Yes, the administration is forced to make decisions based on eco- nomics, but we can do beautiful things, like the Koldus building or the Sanders Cadet Center." Maintaining the look and his- """"---"'"""'< Thursday. March 2. 1995 torical integrity of a building isn't such a radical idea. Just across the street from campus sits the newly remodeled St. Thomas Episcopal Church. The addition to the facility was done in a style identical to the original, so that the two buildings are perfect companions. If they can do it, so can we. Though restoration and preser- vation can be costly, they must be priorities at Texas A&M. Destruc- tion can be just as costly, both in terms of money and history. It will not always be convenient to maintain these buildings, but we must make the effort. "Other universities spend a lot of money to not tear buildings down, like the University of Vir- ginia, which has dorms dating back to the 1820s," said Keith. The oldest dorms we have at A&M are from nearly a century later; keeping them up is definite- ly possible. Sometimes, buildings can be repaired or remodeled at a frac- tion of the cost it would take to build new ones. We must firstt howevert realize the importance of maintaining and preserving our campus. Ignoring our history will not only hurt us immeasurably, but also those who come after us. At a school that is built on tra- ditions, we need to recognize the role our campus plays in those traditions. When will the destruction end? Will we retom in 40 years only to find the Academic Building gone? I hope not.