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John H. Herrick Archives:
Documenting Structures at The Ohio State University

Brown Hall

Herrick Archives Number 016

A. IDENTIFICATION & LOCATION

1. Name

1.1 Officially named "Brown Hall" by Board of Trustees on July 3, 1903. The minutes are silent as to the basis for the name, but the Secretary stated later that it was named in honor of Professor C. N. Brown (Cope: 356).

1.2 Alternate names noted:

Called "Engineering Building" on drawings and in Board minutes prior to official naming of the building.

Also sometimes referred to as "Civil Engineering Building.

See Addendum No. 3

2. Location

2.1 Located at 190 West 17th Avenue. See map below.

2.2 For greater detail, see Sheet 84 in the book of campus maps in the University Archives.

2.3 Built on the site of the original Chemistry Building (H 113), which burned in 1889.

For identification of other buildings shown, see Appendix A.

3. General Description

3.1 Type of construction:
Brick exterior. Wood frame in original; reinforced concrete in addition.

3.2 No. of stories:
Basement and three floors.

3.3 Increments of construction: Enlarged once--see sketch.

A--original construction
B--addition

See Addendum No. 1

3.4 Present area of building as shown in inventory records of Division of Campus Planning:

See Addendum No. 2

3.5 Volume of building:

B. PLANNING & CONSTRUCTION—ORIGINAL BUILDING

1. On August 1, 1902 the Board of Trustees approved the plans and related documents prepared by J. N. Bradford and authorized the solicitation of bids by contractors. Later on the same day the Board decided to delay the solicitation of bids. On August 13, 1902 the Board again decided to proceed with the solicitation of bids.

After some pressure from the governor to delay the project (T 11/6/02), it was decided on December 26, 1902 to advertise for bids.

2. Bids were opened on March 3, 1903 and all bids were rejected (T). New bids were opened on March 11, 1903 (T).

3. On March 11, 1903 the Board of Trustees awarded the construction contract to D. W. McGrath.

4. Beginning of work:

5. Completion and occupancy:

C. PLANNING & CONSTRUCTION—ADDITION

1. On September 14, 1921 the Board of Trustees approved the plans and related documents prepared by J. N. Bradford and authorized the solicitation of bids by contractors.

2. Bids were received on November 18, 1921 (T).

3. On November 19, 1921 the Board of Trustees awarded contracts to the following contractors:

General: E. Elford
Electrical: Electric Power Equipment Co.
Heating & ventilating: Huffman-Wolfe Co.
Plumbing: Huffman-Wolfe Co.

4. Beginning of work: Reported by Secretary at January 10, 1922 Board meeting as "ready for excavation."

5. Completion and occupancy:

As of March 2, 1923 all of the classrooms above the basement and some of the offices were in use (L 3/2/23).

The Building was accepted from the general contractors at March 6, 1923 meeting of the Board of Trustees.

McCracken (4:276) reported 1924 as the date of completion of the addition. Presumably this is an error, since at another place (4:27) he accurately reports the March 6, 1923 Board action.

D. COST

1. The construction contract awarded on March 11, 1903 was for $73,883 (T). The first Business Office report (1909-10) listed the building at $75,000. Reasons tor this discrepancy have not been explored.

2. During the three year period 1921-24, Business Office reports show an increase of $99,191.21, bringing the total to $174,191.21. Presumably these additions resulted from the contracts awarded on November 19, 1921.

3. The Business Office report for 1952-53 records an increase of $3,380.00. Presumably this increase was for remodeling the library, which was combined for contract purposes with the remodeling of the garage (017).

4. The 1968-69 and 1969-70 Business Office reports record increases of $110, 271.01 and $27,290.46. respectively, bringing the total to $315,447.68. Remodeling for new uses accounted for these increases.

E. MISCELLANEOUS

1. The Board on June 28, 1912 appropriated $500 for remodeling on the first floor to provide offices for the University Architect.

2. The building was extensively remodeled in 1968-69 (to provide offices for the College Of Humanities and Placement Offices for the College of Arts and Sciences.

F. PHOTOGRAPHS

1. In Photoarchives:

X 1388

See Addendum No. 1

2. Other:

Hooper: 65
McC 22: 56

John H. Herrick April 6, 1972

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7/5/2005

ADDENDUM NO.5

Photographs from the University Archives:

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9/7/2005

Suggest an addendum to this building record

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