Hauptgebaude

{{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox NRHP | name = Hauptgebaude | image = ElmhurstOldMain.JPG | caption = Elmhurst Old Main in 2011 | location = 190 Prospect St.<br> Elmhurst, DuPage County, Illinois, U.S. | coordinates = {{coord|41|53|45|N|87|56|43|W|display=inline,title}} | locmapin = Illinois#USA | built = {{start date and age|1878}} | architecture = Gothic Revival | architect = | refnum = 76002162 | added = August 13, 1976 }}

'''Hauptgebaude''', ({{IPA|de|ˈhaʊ̯ptɡəˌbɔɪ̯də|lang|De-Hauptgebäude.ogg}}; {{abbrlink|lit.|literal translation}} 'main building') also known as '''Old Main''', was the predecessor to Elmhurst University in Elmhurst, Illinois. The three-story building was constructed in 1878 as a gymnasium style of school, reflecting the German heritage of the local residents. The new building allowed the school to increase its enrollment to 103 students in its first year. Classes in the Hauptgebaude were solely taught in German until 1917. In 1919, the school became accredited as a junior college.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Souvenir of the golden jubilee. June 5, 1921|url = https://archive.org/stream/souvenirofgolden00elmh#page/n0/mode/2up|website = archive.org|accessdate = 2015-09-09}}</ref> Starting in 1928, the school added additional buildings to the campus. The school began admitting female students in 1930, and received accreditation as a four-year college in 1934.<ref>{{Cite web|title = CHEA Database of Institutions Accredited By Recognized U.S. Accrediting Organizations|url = http://www.chea.org/search/actionInst.asp?CheaID=203758|website = www.chea.org|accessdate = 2015-09-09|url-status=dead|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20150923202517/http://www.chea.org/search/actionInst.asp?CheaID=203758|archivedate = 2015-09-23}}</ref> Old Main functioned as the school's administration building until the 1950s. It was renovated in 1920 after a major fire, and again in 1976 and 1995.<ref>{{Cite web|title = The Council of Independent Colleges: Historic Campus Architecture Project|url = http://puka.cs.waikato.ac.nz/cgi-bin/cic/library?a=d&d=p581|website = puka.cs.waikato.ac.nz|accessdate = 2015-09-09|url-status=dead|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20151125010319/http://puka.cs.waikato.ac.nz/cgi-bin/cic/library?a=d&d=p581|archivedate = 2015-11-25}}</ref> At one time or another, Old Main housed the science labs, the cafeteria, a pipe organ, and a Fumatorium (smoking room) where students in the early 1900s smoked, talked and played chess.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Classic photos: Elmhurst College -- Chicago Tribune|url = http://galleries.apps.chicagotribune.com/chi-classic-photos-elmhurst-college-20140512/|website = galleries.apps.chicagotribune.com|accessdate = 2015-09-09}}</ref> Along with Irion Hall, Old Main even served as the library (in an unofficial capacity) before Memorial Library was built. Old Main now houses faculty offices, art studios and general classrooms and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.<ref>{{Cite web|title = AssetDetail|url = https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/76002162|website = focus.nps.gov|access-date = 2015-09-09}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}} *A History of Elmhurst College

{{NRHP in DuPage County, Illinois}} Category:Elmhurst, Illinois Category:National Register of Historic Places in DuPage County, Illinois Category:School buildings completed in 1878 Category:University and college buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places in Illinois Category:University and college academic buildings in the United States Category:1878 establishments in Illinois