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John H. Herrick Archives:
Documenting Structures at The Ohio State University
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230 West 17th Avenue
Herrick Archives Number 004
A. IDENTIFICATION & LOCATION
1. Name
1.1 For the building as a whole:
1.1.1 Officially named "Service Building" by Board of Trustees on June 28, 1915.
1.1.2 Old Service Building--when Building 077 was under construction.
1.1.3 Alumni House
1.1.4 230 West 17th Avenue (after Alumni Offices moved to Building 284). Name changed by
Division of Campus Planning with approval of Vice President Smith without Board of
Trustees action (P).1.2 For Section A--see diagram on next page.
1.2.1 Officially named "Mechanical Hall" by Board of Trustees on March 1, 1892.
1.2.2 Mechanical Laboratory
1.2.3 Mechanical Engineering
1.2.4 Mechanical Engineering Laboratory
See Addendum No. 2,5,6
1.2.5 Old Mechanical Engineering
1.2.6 Old Mechanical Laboratory Building
1.2.7 Experimental Engineering Laboratory
1.2.8 Repair Shops
1.2.9 Shops
1.2.10 Workshops
1.3 For Section B
1.3.1 Store Room and Receiving Department Building
1.3.2 Stores and Receiving Department Building
1.3.3 Stores and Receiving
1.3.4 Storeroom
1.4 For Section C
1.4.1 Freight House
1.4.2 Freight and Kiln Room
2. Location
2.1 Located at 230 West 17th Avenue. See map below.
2.2 For greater detail, see Sheets 83, 84, 96, and 97 in the book of campus maps in the University
Archives.
For identification of other buildings shown, see Appendix A.
3. General Description
3.1 Type of construction:
Wood frame and brick exterior.
3.2 No. of stories:
Basement and one story.
3.3 Increments of construction:
Built in three major parts. See sketch.
A--Original Building
B--lst Addition
C--2nd Addition3.4 Present area of building as shown in inventory records of Division of Campus Planning:
25, 055 sq. ft. gross;
18, 380 sq. ft. net assignable3.5 Volume of building:
222, 000 cubic feet (PP)
B. PLANNING & CONSTRUCTION—PART A
1. On June 16, 1879 the Board of Trustees approved the plans and related documents prepared by J. T.
Harris and authorized the solicitation of bids by contractors.
2. Bids were received on July 18, 1879 (T).
3. On July 18, 1879 the Board of Trustees awarded the contract to John D. Clarke and Michael Fahey
in the amount of $4, 550. 00, the building to be completed by October 1, 1879.
4. Completion and occupancy:
The building was completed by October 1, 1879, according to McCracken (1:50). However,
Albert Allen, Secretary of the Board of Trustees, reported that the building was completed
early in November (R 1879:10).First used by classes in January 1880, according to Professor Robinson (R 1880:30).
5. In 1936 the portion of Section A shown below the dotted line in the sketch was removed to permit a
relocation of 17th Avenue (M Oct. 1936: 11).
C. PLANNING & CONSTRUCTION- -PART B
1. On March 5, 1913 the Board of Trustees approved the plans and related documents prepared by
Joseph N. Bradford, University Architect, and authorized the solicitation of bids by contractors.
2. Bids were received on March 31, 1913 (T).
3. On April 8, 1913 the Board of Trustees awarded the contract to M. P. Streett in the amount of
$9,468.00
4. Excavation work began the week of April 16, 1913 (McC 2:271).
5. Completion and occupancy:
The President reported to the Board of Trustees on December 12, 1913 that the "Receiving
Department" was ready for operation. The Board then accepted the building and authorized
final payment to the contractor.
6. The construction of Part B created an open court between Part A and Part B. This was later enclosed.
The date of enclosure has not been firmly established, but 1915 is indicated on an undated and unsigned
diagram furnished by Photoarchivist Martha Ruth Jones.
D. PLANNING & CONSTRUCTION—PART C
1. On March 6, 1914 the Board of Trustees approved the plans and related documents prepared by Joseph N. Bradford, University Architect, and authorized the solicitation of bids by contractors.
2. Bids were received on May 20, 1914 (T), and all were rejected because they were over the estimates. Revised plans were approved on the same day, and the solicitation of new bids was ordered.
3. New bids were opened July 7, 1914 (T).
4. On July 7, 1914 the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees awarded the contracts to D. W. McGrath in the amount of $11, 925. 00.
5. Completion:
On January 5, 1915 the President reported that the building had been completed, and the Board formally accepted the building and authorized final payment to the contractor.
6. The construction of Part C left a space between B and C for a railroad spur. The tracks were later removed and the space enclosed. The chart furnished by Photoarchivist Martha Ruth Jones gives 1921 as the date of enclosure, but drawings in the University Architect's office (Project 2322) are then in process of completion.
E. COST
The original Mechanical Laboratory (Part A) cost $4, 550 (McC 1:8A), but the value in the first Business Office report (1909-10) is set at $10,000. Part B added $11,195.38 and Part C, $12, 627.26 (B). These three items were combined in 1915-16 for a total of $33,822.64. This total is still included in the 1970-71 Business Office report, even though a portion of the original building was razed.
F. MISCELLANEOUS
1. The Board of Trustees on November 7, 1907 appropriated money for moving the mechanical engineering department from this building to the new Robinson Laboratory (Building 075). The old building (Part A in sketch above) was then converted to an office for the Chief Engineer and maintenance shops, except that the second floor (southeast corner) was retained as a lecture room for Professor Graves (McC 2:133).
2. President Thompson reported to the Board of Trustees on February 4, 1914 that the University laundry equipment had been moved from Oxley Hall (Building 102) to the basement of the new service building (Part C). According to McCracken (3:25) this was contemplated at the time of awarding contracts, and it was also planned to put the carpenter and tin shops on the first floor of Part C of this complex.
G. PHOTOGRAPHS
1. In Photoarchives:
X 1214--original building
X 1212--original building
X 1237--part of original building being demolished
X 7603--Alumni House from east
X 7604--Alumni House from northeast
2. Others:
Hooper: 169
McCracken 1: 50 (original section)
John H. Herrick
April 10, 1972
ADDENDUM NO. 1
Photograph
See L 11/29/72 for aerial view from the Library (050) after demolition of University Hall (088).
Demolition
Demolition of Building 004 was a part of the general contract for construction of the new "University Hall Complex". (A)
It was noted on December 22, 1972 that demolition had started at the south end of the building. By January 10, 1973 the entire building had been leveled to the top of the foundation wall, but the debris had not been removed.
John H. Herrick
January 16, 1973
ADDENDUM NO. 2
The north part of Section A, north of the dotted line, is referred to on same photographs in Photoarchives as the "Experimental Laboratory."
John H. Herrick
November 28, 1975
ADDENDUM NO. 3
At the southeast corner of the original building (Section A below dotted line in sketch on second page of this report) there was a two-story section. See Photograph X 1214.
John H. Herrick
January 26, 1979
ADDENDUM NO. 4
Cabinet on July 31, 1923 agreed to enclose the space between B & C.
John H. Herrick
February 15, 1979
ADDENDUM NO. 5
Inspection of old campus maps reveals the following additional names for this building:
First M. E. Building, Receiving Department, Service Buildings, Service Group, Storehouse,
Storeroom and Shops, Workshop.
John H. Herrick
November 12, 1979
ADDENDUM NO. 6
The following additional names for this building have been found on old campus maps:
M. E. Hall, M. E. Lab
John H. Herrick
September 21, 1981