Wilson
Hall
Harrisonburg,
Virginia
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Wilson
Hall, the building most identified with James Madison University,
sits at the head of JMU’s beautiful Quadrangle. It now contains
the President’s office, other major administrative offices,
and the office of the Graduate School.
Ground
was broken for Wilson Hall in May, 1930. The cornerstone was laid
with full Masonic rites in July of that year. Wilson Hall was
built by Nielsen Construction Company of Harrisonburg at a cost
of $202,073.75. Like other buildings on JMU’s Quadrangle,
Wilson Hall is constructed of a limestone block known as “bluestone”
because of its bluish-gray color.
The
building was named for Woodrow Wilson, 28th President of the United
States. Wilson was born in nearby Staunton, Virginia. Wilson Hall
was dedicated on May 15, 1931, before an audience that included
President Wilson’s widow, Edith Bolling Wilson.
Administrative
offices, including the president’s office, were on the first
floor of Wilson Hall, along with the student post office. Classrooms
were on the second and third floors. The last classroom housed
in Wilson Hall was a geography classroom/laboratory in 1990-91.
Wilson
Hall also contains an auditorium on the first floor with a balcony
on the second floor. Renovated in 1988, it now has a seating capacity
of 1,372.
Text
© 1995 Dianne Harrah, Drawing © 1995 Bill Harrah.
JAMES
MADISON UNIVERSITY (Click on an image to see the
actual notecard size)
