Architectural Timelines 19th century Architecture of the University of Oregon

THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OREGON

Gymnasium

UO's ARCHITECTURAL TIMELINES 19th Century

Unless otherwise noted, the date indicates when the building opened. Follow the link to learn more about the history of a building or architect.

See a contemporary map of the 1894 campus.

1846-1872

• 1846-Eugene Skinner settled at site now called Skinner's Butte.
• 1851-the Millrace was developed to serve as a generator of electricity for Hilyard Shaw's sawmill and later other local industries.
• 1859-Oregon becomes a state.
• 1862-The city of Eugene is incorporated.
• 1868-- Oregon Agricultural College, formerly Corvallis College, is established as the land-grant university.

1872

• Several Eugene citizens form the Union University Association to convince the legislature to select Eugene as the site of a proposed university. An enabling legislative act allowed Eugene to proceed-- with the guarantee that its citizens provide land and a $50,000 building.

1873

• Pioneer Cemetery
• Construction begins on UO's first building (to be named Deady Hall).

1876

• The State University Building (Deady Hall) opened. Architect: William W. Piper.

1881

• Increasing debts gave rise to the idea of selling the university. Henry Villard, financial and railroad entrepreneur, donated substantial funding --enough to pay off debts and to establish an endowment. 1886

1885

• The Normal Gate, an ornamental arbor crafted from wrought iron, was given to UO in 1885 in commemoration of the Normal School that ended that year.

1886

• Collier House, owned by Physics professor George Collier, was completed in May 1886.
• Villard Hall. Architect: Warren H. Williams.

1889

• Astronomical Observatory. Architect: Warren H. Williams.
• Gymnasium. Architect: W. L. Campbell.

1890

• The 15th Annual Catalogue of the University of Oregon (1890-91) provides this description of campus buildings:  

BUILDINGS. The University has on its campus three brick buildings.One was erected in part by the citizens of Lanecounty and finished by the State. It is one hundred andfifteen feet long, fifty-four feet wide, and three storieshigh, besides the basement. The second building, namedby the Regents Villard Hall,  is made of brick, and hasa concrete finish on the outside. It is one hundred and fifteen feet in length, sixty-nine feet wide, and two storieshigh above basement. The third brick building waserected by the Regents 1n 1889, at a cost of about four thousand five hundred dollars, for a gymnasium. It containsthe most approved apparatus for exercise. A brick observatory, on an eminence convenient to the University, has been erected by the Regents, at a cost of about four thousand dollars.

LIBRARY. The University Library occupies a room in Villard Hall, and contains at present about three thousand volumes. A part of the books was bought at a cost of one thousand dollars, by Mr. Henry Villard. Another part has since been bought at a cost of seven hundred dollars,out of the income from the Villard endowment fund.The annual sum coming from the Villard fund for thepurchase of books for the library is four hundred dollars. This money is now spent in buying books of reference for the use of the University. Through the influence of the Hon. J. N. Dolph, Oregon's United States Senator, the library has been made the depository of all documents published by the general government at Washington. In the library room may also he found a large number of magazines, reviews, and other periodicals published in England and America. There is no charge for the use of an these books and periodicals.

1893

• The "Old Building" was named Deady Hall.
• Dormitory (named Friendly Hall in 1915). Architect: Whidden and Lewis.

1896

• Collier House was purchased by UO.