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

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Orton Hall

Herrick Archives Number 060

A. IDENTIFICATION & LOCATION

1. Name

1. 1 Officially named "Orton Hall" by Board of Trustees on November 17, 1891 in recognition of Dr. Edward Orton, first President of the University.

1. 2 Alternate names noted:

Geological Building
Biological Museum

See Addenda Nos. 1, 3, 4, 5, 7

2. Location

2. 1 Located at 155 South Oval Drive. See map below.

2. 2 For greater detail, see Sheets 97 and 110 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:

Concrete, masonry and steel interior with stone exterior.

3. 2 No. of stories:

Basement and three stories.

3. 3 Increments of construction:

Building has not been enlarged.

3. 4 Present area of the building as shown in inventory records of Division of Campus Planning:

38, 131 sq. ft. gross; 26, 518 sq. ft. net assignable

See Addendum No. 6

3. 5 Volume of building: 743,000 cubic feet (PP)

B. PLANNING & CONSTRUCTION

1. On July 21, 1891 the Board of Trustees approved the plans and related documents prepared by J. W. Yost and authorized the solicitation of bids by contractors.

2. Bids were received on October 14, 1891 (T).

3. On October 14, 1891 the Board of Trustees awarded the construction contract to W. J. McClain.

4. Completion and occupancy:

Building was occupied in late summer of 1893 (McC 1:112), about September 1 (Ibid., 103)

C. COST

1. The value of the building in 1899 was listed by McCracken at $100,000 (McC 1:8A) and this same figure was carried in Business Office reports from 1909-10 through 1948-49.

2. Since June 30, 1949 values carried in Business Office reports have increased to $177,755.72, but not because of any expansion of the building.

D. MISCELLANEOUS

1. The University library was housed in Orton from the opening of the building in 1893 through 1912, at which time it was moved to the new library building (050).

2. Contracts were let for Orton Hall and Hayes Hall (039) on the same date, but Hayes was occupied first.

3. For kiln shed at southwest corner of the building see H 127.

E. PHOTOGRAPHS

1. In Photoarchives:

X 2552
X 2553

2. Others:

Hooper: 21
McC 1: 103

John H. Herrick

April 13, 1972

ADDENDUM NO. 1

A 1949 plan showed this building as the location for a "Coal Geology Laboratory."

John H. Herrick

March 16, 1977

ADDENDUM NO. 2

This building was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places on July 16, 1970.

John H. Herrick

August 5, 1977

ADDENDUM NO. 3

Prior to the construction of Sullivant Hall (106), Building 060 was frequently referred to as "The Museum."

John H. Herrick

April 6, 1979

ADDENDUM NO. 4

McCracken (1:102) refers to this building as the "Geological Museum" and also as the "Museum Building."

John H. Herrick

June 27, 1979

ADDENDUM NO. 5

Inspection of old campus maps reveals the following additional names for this building:

Orten (sic) Hall
Ortan (sic) Hall

John H. Herrick

November 21, 1979

ADDENDUM NO. 6

Campus Planning records now show the following areas for this building 41,595 sq. ft. gross; 25,869 sq. ft. net assignable.

John H. Herrick

November 7, 1984

ADDENDUM NO. 7

This building is now carried in Campus Planning records as Edward Orton Sr. Hall. The official name remains "Orton Hall."

John H. Herrick

August 26, 1986

11/18/2005

ADDENDUM NO.8

Photographs from the University Archives:


Orton Hall: Aerial View Photo date: 1900 University Archives identifier: X2551.	Orton Hall: Aerial View Photo date: no date University Archives identifier: Folder 51 Chimes.	Orton Hall: Bells Photo date: 1915 University Archives identifier: Folder 51 Chimes.

Orton Hall: Bells Photo date: 1985 University Archives identifier: Folder 51 Chimes.	Orton Hall: Interior view of bells being played Photo date: no date University Archives identifier: Folder 51 Chimes.	Orton Hall: Exterior detail of bell tower Photo date: 1949 University Archives identifier: Folder 51 Chimes.

Orton Hall: Exterior Photo date: no date University Archives identifier: Folder 51 N.D.	Orton Hall: Exterior Photo date: 1904 University Archives identifier: X2553.	Orton Hall: Exterior Photo date: no date University Archives identifier: X2552.

Orton Hall: Interior Photo date: no date University Archives identifier: Image #X2573.