# Waller Hall

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**Waller Hall** is a building on the campus of [Willamette University](/source/Willamette_University) in [Salem, Oregon](/source/Salem,_Oregon), in the [United States](/source/United_States). Opened in 1867 as **University Hall**, it is the oldest higher-education building west of the [Mississippi River](/source/Mississippi_River) still in use, currently housing the university's administrative offices.

Built in the [Renaissance](/source/Renaissance_architecture) style of architecture, it was added to the [National Register of Historic Places](/source/National_Register_of_Historic_Places) in 1975.[2] The building has been gutted twice by fires with the interior rebuilt each time, and went through renovations in 1987 to 1989 and again in 2005.

## History

### Background

Due to a variety of factors, including the deterioration of the main campus building dating from 1844 and the need for additional space, the university considered building a new building designed specifically for the university beginning in the 1850s.[3] Then on October 3, 1860, the board of trustees for the school resolved to begin the process of building a new primary hall to be used by the [university](/source/University).[3] Reverend [Alvin F. Waller](/source/Alvin_F._Waller) was placed in charge of the efforts to raise the funds needed for a building.[3] However, this was unsuccessful and on November 19, 1862, the board again passed a resolution calling for a new structure and forming a committee of Waller, [Gustavus Hines](/source/Gustavus_Hines), [Josiah Lamberson Parrish](/source/Josiah_Lamberson_Parrish), J. Lamson, and [John H. Moores](/source/John_H._Moores) to prepare plans.[3]

On December 2, the trustees authorized [subscriptions](/source/Subscriptions) to be solicited and paid to Waller with a goal of $20,000.[3] On May 20, 1863, the board met again and learned that $12,800 had been pledged and the board then set up a building committee of Waller, Hines, Moores, E.N. Cook, and [Thomas Milton Gatch](/source/Thomas_Milton_Gatch).[3] It was mainly through the efforts of the Reverend Waller that the hall was built.[4] Several designs were then considered for the new building, and on February 22, 1864, by a vote of 16 to 1 the board selected the final plan that called for a brick building with a stone foundation.[3] The foundation was to rise to a level 3 feet (0.91 m) above the ground to prevent moisture from the ground seeping into the bricks.[3]

### Construction

Construction of the new building began in February 1864 with excavation of the basement.[3] This was on the north section of Willamette's campus in downtown Salem.[5] Then on July 24, the cornerstone of the building was laid into place in a ceremony.[3] The President of the Board of Trustees, [David Leslie](/source/David_Leslie_(Oregon_politician)), laid the cornerstone of the hall.[6] This ceremony included a time capsule and a speech by [Governor](/source/Governor_of_Oregon) [A. C. Gibbs](/source/A._C._Gibbs).[3]

All of the [bricks](/source/Brick) used in the construction were fired on campus using clay excavated from the construction site in order to build the foundation.[4] The builders ordered 500,000 bricks total for the construction project.[7] Construction was completed in 1867 and the building was named University Hall.[8] The school "marched" from the old school building to the new and began using it on October 21, 1867.[3]

Total costs for the building were $40,000 at occupation with a need for approximately an additional $17,000 to finish and furnish the building.[3] The building was first used for classrooms, a library, parlors, recitation rooms, and some physical education in the attic.[7] Also in the early years the structure housed the chapel services of the school,[8] and some temporary accommodations for students.[9]

### Later years

The old school building, the [Oregon Institute](/source/Oregon_Institute), burned down in December 1872 leaving University Hall as the only building on campus.[10] As a result, all departments were housed in the building including the [College of Law](/source/Willamette_University_College_of_Law) from 1884 to 1923 when it moved to [Eaton Hall](/source/Eaton_Hall_(Oregon)) and the [Medical School](/source/Willamette_University_School_of_Medicine) from 1867 until 1880 when it moved to Portland.[10][11] University Hall remained the only permanent campus building from 1872 when the Oregon Institute building burned down until 1906 when the Medical Building (now [Art Building](/source/Art_Building_(Willamette_University))) was built.[10] Other school buildings such as the first [Lausanne Hall](/source/Lausanne_Hall) were located off campus.[10]

On September 16, 1891, University Hall, the school's first brick building, caught on fire.[12] As a result of the fire the top two floors of the building as well as the roof were destroyed.[8] The building was then re-built after the 1891 fire, but unlike the original plans it was constructed with a [Mansard](/source/Mansard) style roof.[12] Additionally, a square tower was also built on top in lieu of the original cupola which included a school bell.[12][13] From its construction until 1987, Waller Hall was used as an academic hall and hosted classes along with housing the school's chapel and as offices for the faculty.[9]

In 1912, Willamette renamed the building in honor of the Reverend Alvan (Alvin) F. Waller who was instrumental in getting the hall built.[4] Then on December 17, 1919, another fire swept through Waller Hall while school was on break for Christmas.[12][14] This second fire completely gutted the five-story building, but the exterior walls remained intact.[8] The Mansard roof and square tower were destroyed in the fire.[12] The university rebuilt the hall the following year, and used the original plans that included the round cupola but omitted the Mansard style roof and the square [tower](/source/Tower) topping the structure.[4] Architect Fred A. Legge oversaw the rebuilding and re-design of the hall.[15] A campaign launched in 1920 by the university was set to raise $100,000 to be used for the reconstruction of Waller, plus completing the new [Lausanne Hall](/source/Lausanne_Hall) and adding a central heating plant.[16]

There was some discussion of demolishing the hall in the 1980s after the structure had become dilapidated.[9] One proposal called for building a replica on the same site as the original, but school administrators opted to renovate Waller Hall.[9] From November 1987 to November 1989 the 25,000-square foot (2,300-square metre) building went through a $2.26 million [renovation](/source/Renovation).[5] This renovation addressed interior issues with the building including [seismic](/source/Seismic) upgrades in the event of a large magnitude earthquake.[17] These renovations also turned the attic into an office suite for the school's president.[9] After renovations in 1988 the building was used for university administration offices.[9] Further renovations were completed in 2005 at a cost of $1.3 million for upgrading the 100-year-old windows to newer energy efficient models, repairing the brick, fixing leaks, installing [skylights](/source/Skylight_(window)), re-painting, and slightly lightening the exterior red-brick coloring.[17]

## Architecture

Waller Hall was built in the [Renaissance](/source/Renaissance_architecture) style of architecture.[1] This red brick building was designed in the same proportions as a [Greek cross](/source/Greek_cross).[8] Bishop Janes was responsible for proposing this use of the cross shape for the building.[3] Each of the two wings is 84 feet (26 m) long and 44 feet (13 m) wide with [aedicule](/source/Aedicule) porches on the west, east, and north ends of the building.[7] Originally, the building was 100 feet (30 m) tall as measured from the base of the building to the top of the dome.[3] The distance from the eaves of the structure to the base is 50 feet (15 m).[3] The basement of the building is 12 feet (3.7 m) high and the first floor 16 feet (4.9 m) high.[3] The foundation is made of stone and the roof has composition shingles.[9] Both the second and third floors are 12 feet (3.7 m) tall.[3] The hall has a [cupola](/source/Cupola) topping the structure. Other details include [pilasters](/source/Pilaster), [dentils](/source/Dentil), and brick [corbelling](/source/Corbel) on the exterior and circular stairways on the interior.[7]

## Currently

Waller Hall houses alumni relations, the school's business office, human resources for the university, the office of communications, university relations, the President's office, and other administrative functions.[8] Additionally, Cone Chapel is on the building's second floor and seats 300.[8] Cone Chapel features over a dozen stained glass windows[18] and a classic pipe organ.[19] The chapel is occasionally used for commencement ceremonies, lectures, and concerts at the school.[20] Waller Hall sits in the north central part of campus directly opposite of the [Oregon State Capitol](/source/Oregon_State_Capitol). The structure is the oldest university building west of the [Mississippi River](/source/Mississippi_River) still in use in the United States.[5]

In 1992, during the university's [sesquicentennial](/source/Anniversary), the [United States Postal Service](/source/United_States_Postal_Service) issued a [postal card](/source/Postal_card) that featured an image of Waller Hall.[4] Featuring a watercolor painting by George C. Warner of [Eugene, Oregon](/source/Eugene,_Oregon), these 19 cent postcards were part of the Postal Service's Historic Preservation Series.[21]

## See also

- [Methodist Mission](/source/Methodist_Mission)
- [Old Garfield School (Salem, Oregon)](/source/Old_Garfield_School_(Salem,_Oregon))
- [Oregon Institute](/source/Oregon_Institute)
- [State Library of Oregon](/source/State_Library_of_Oregon)

## References

1. ["Oregon National Register List"](http://www.oregon.gov/OPRD/HCD/NATREG/docs/oregon_nr_list.pdf). Oregon Parks & Recreation Dept.: Heritage Programs: National Register. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110609105953/http://www.oregon.gov/OPRD/HCD/NATREG/docs/oregon_nr_list.pdf) 2011-06-09 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2007-08-31.

1. Hines, Gustavus. *Oregon and Its Institutions; Comprising a Full History of the Willamette University*. Carlton & Porter, 1868.

1. Gibby, Susan. ["Willamette University"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160303211045/http://www.salemhistory.net/education/willamette_university.htm). Salem Online History. Archived from [the original](http://www.salemhistory.net/education/willamette_university.htm) on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2007-03-12.

1. ["EESI: Waller Hall Renovation: Mechanical Design"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070928100925/http://www.eesinet.com/WillametteUniv.pdf). Archived from [the original](http://www.eesinet.com/WillametteUniv.pdf) on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-08-31.

1. [David Leslie.](https://web.archive.org/web/20070927230124/http://www.open.org/~pioneerc/pg26.html) Salem Pioneer Cemetery. Retrieved on July 19, 2009.

1. Walton, Elisabeth (Oct 1973). "A Note on William W. Piper and Academy Architecture in Oregon in the Nineteenth Century". *The Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians*. **32** (3): 231–238. Society of Architectural Historians. [doi:10.2307/988795](https://doi.org/10.2307/988795). [JSTOR 988795](https://www.jstor.org/stable/988795)

1. [Campus Tour](http://www.willamette.edu/tour/tour_flash.php) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20070503172005/http://www.willamette.edu/tour/tour_flash.php) 2007-05-03 at the Wayback Machine. Willamette University. Retrieved on August 31, 2007.

1. [Historic Campus Architecture Project: Waller Hall.](http://hcap.artstor.org/cgi-bin/library?a=d&d=p2239) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110725015600/http://hcap.artstor.org/cgi-bin/library?a=d&d=p2239) 2011-07-25 at the Wayback Machine The Council of Independent Colleges. Retrieved on October 1, 2008.

1. Cowger, Wright. *The First Hundred Years: 1834-1934 Willamette University from Jason Lee to Carl Doney*. Willamette University, 1981.

1. Swenson, Eric. *Willamette University College of Law: The First Hundred Years: An Illustrated History*. Willamette University College of Law, 1987.

1. 1840-1990 Keepsake Edition: Willamette University. *Statesman Journal*, October 26, 1990.

1. [Historic Photographs Collection](http://photos.salemhistory.net/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/sj&CISOPTR=969&REC=3) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210203224936/https://photos.salemhistory.net/digital/collection/sj/id/969) 2021-02-03 at the Wayback Machine. Salem Public Library. Retrieved on August 31, 2007.

1. "Colleges Resume Work". *The Oregonian*. January 8, 1920. p. 6.

1. Kuhn, Cheryl. "Living up to Lausanne", *Willamette Scene*, Vol. 2, No. 1, Spring 1985, pp. 12-13.

1. "$100,000 to be Raised". *The Oregonian*. April 25, 1920. p. 16.

1. De Carbonel, Dan. Waller Hall renovation covers next 100 years. *Statesman Journal*, August 16, 2005.

1. Cowan, Ron. The history of the delicate designs adds to their mystique. *Statesman Journal*, June 16, 2002.

1. [Pipe Organs of Portland, Oregon: Cone Chapel](http://home.teleport.com/~wkrueger/organ/cone.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160303182330/http://home.teleport.com/~wkrueger/organ/cone.html) 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine, Accessed: August 31, 2007

1. [Willamette to Graduate First Class in State of Oregon Certificate of Public Management](http://blog.willamette.edu/news/archives/2001/04/willamette_to_g.php) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20060828142131/http://blog.willamette.edu/news/archives/2001/04/willamette_to_g.php) 2006-08-28 at the Wayback Machine, Willamette University, April 1, 2001. Accessed August 31, 2007

1. Hill, Jim. Salem's Willamette University celebrates 150 years of learning. *The Oregonian*, January 31, 1992.

## External links

- [Historic photos of Waller Hall](http://photos.salemhistory.net/cdm4/results.php?CISOOP1=all&CISOBOX1=&CISOFIELD1=title&CISOOP2=exact&CISOBOX2=Waller%20Hall&CISOFIELD2=subjec&CISOOP3=any&CISOBOX3=&CISOFIELD3=descri&CISOOP4=none&CISOBOX4=&CISOFIELD4=audiena&CISOROOT=all) from Salem Public Library, including the 1891 and 1919 fires
- [Cone Chapel's pipe organ](http://home.teleport.com/~wkrueger/organ/cone.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160303182330/http://home.teleport.com/~wkrueger/organ/cone.html) 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Waller Hall](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waller_Hall) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waller_Hall?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.