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by Al Smitley
1985
 |
Anibal
and Fitzgerald - Student's Residence Units "A"
and "B" Howard
C. Baldwin Memorial Pavilion Barn
Theater Remodeling Square footage - 2,702 [3], 350
seats [4] Central Heating Plant and Distribution Systems Cost - $3,006,191.32 [1] Architect - Commonwealth Associates, Inc. , 209 E. Washington Ave., Jackson, Mich. 49201 [2] Construction - E.E. Powell General ?Contracting Co. , 4479 Pontiac Lake Road, Pontiac, Mich. 48054 [3] Square Footage - 16, 883 [4] Notes: Clinical Research Laboratory Cost - $23,677 [1] Consultant - G.H. Forbes Associates, 91 West Long Lake Rd., Bloomfield Hills, Mich. 48013 [2] Construction - George-Damien LTD., 3155 Stanton Rd., Lake Orion, Mich. 38035 [3] Notes: Dodge Hall of Engineering Groundbreaking - Nov. 3, 1966 [1] Costs - $4,230,103.09 [2] About $5,000,000 [3] [4] Funding - State appropriated funds and additional funds from the National Institute of Health [5] Architect - O'Dell, Hewlett and Luckenback [6] Construction - Lerner-Linden Construction Company, 17379 Wyoming, Detroit, Mich [7] Square Footage - 135,000 [8] 148,259 [9] 130,000 of working area [10] Photograph - Ground breaking [11] sketch [12] History - Construction began on Nov. 3, 1966 and was hampered by sheet metal workers strike which was settled on June 7, 1967, then by a roofer's union strike [13] Building name - Automobile pioneers John F. and Horace E. Dodge, John F. Dodge was the husband of Mrs. Matilda R. Wilson, whose land Oakland University now stands on. [14] Notes: North and South Foundation Hall Dedication-Oct. 1, 1959 [1] The dedication program was a half hour long followed by a tea. Speakers were Mrs. Wilson, Harold Fitzgerald, and James C. Zeder, engineering vice president of Chrysler Corporation and chairman of the Foundation's curriculum committee [2] Cost - $1, 799,254.27 [3] Funding - $2,000,000 was given by Mr. And Mrs. Alfred G. Wilson [4] Architect - Swanson Associates, Inc. 74 W. Long Lake Rd., Bloomfield Hills, Mich. [5] Construction - J.A. Fredman, Inc. , 735 S. Paddock St., Pontiac, Mich. [6] Square footage - North=67,691, South=55,041 [7] Photography - Construction with description of dedication [8] ; early campus picture [9] History - At the dedication, Chancellor Varner said, "You shall find in this building not a single piece of carpet or drapery material. Furthermore there will be none from money which can be used to improve the salaries of the faculty or to improve the library. The University is not judged by the quantity of carpets nor by the dimensions of a Chancellor's office, but rather by the quality of the faculty and the motivation of the students. It is here that we have set our money and it is here that we shall make our mark." [10] There was a student take-over of the building in protest over admission policies and racism in 1969. [11] Building name - The name recognizes the work of M.S.O.U. foundation, a group of 50 community leaders, whose work is responsible for its being a state university centered on the liberal arts. Harold A. Fitzgerald was President of the foundation and publisher of the Pontiac Press.[12] Notes: Graham Health Center Ground Breaking - Was scheduled for July 1967 [1] Dedication - June 3, 1969 [2] Cost - $576,981.15 [3] $666,566 [4], [5] Architect - Denyes and Freeman Associates, Inc., 615 Community National Bank Bldg., Pontiac, Mich. 48058 [6] Construction - Bundy Construction co., 1509 S. Telegraph Rd., Pontiac, Mich. 48053 [7] Square Footage - 13, 161 [8] 22 bed capacity. Offices for doctors and medical director, living quarters for around-the-clock medical attendants, examination rooms, first-aid room, a therapy room, six hospital wards and two isolation wards. [9] Building name - Named for Mr. And Mrs. Graham J. Graham for their contributions and support of the University. They were life members of the Chancellors Club, an organization of large donors to the University and both have served as trustees of the OU Foundation. [10] Notes: Hamlin Hall Dedicated - Feb. 1969 [1] Cost - $3,113,045.01 [2], about $4,000,000 [3], #3,720,000 [4] Funding - A loan from Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, self-liquidating to be paid out of room and board charges [5], [6], [7] Architect - L.G. Redstone Architect, Inc. [8], Louis G. Redstone and Associates of Detroit [9] Construction - Darin and Armstrong, Inc. - 2041 Fenkel, Detroit, Mich. 48238 [10] Square Footage - 142, 872 [11], 676 students [12] Photograph - Architects' rendering [13], [14], flags for hostages in Iran [15], general [16] History - Plans for dorm #7 were scrapped in 1966 due to rising interest rates [17]. Final steps of construction took a long time due to the major strike of construction workers from May 1 to the end of July, in 1968. [18] It is the tallest building on campus (9 story) but is the same height as Vandenberg Hall because it sits in a ravine [19]. On Nov. 4, 1977 the hall was evacuated and searched after Public Safety received a bomb threat and police failed to find a bomb. [20] On Feb. 12, 1973 an unidentified gunman was admitted into a room on the 2nd floor of North Hamlin, demanded money, got around $20. and fled up a back stairway [21] Building name - For Delos Hamlin, former chairman of the Oakland County Board of Supervisors, elected chairman for 13 consecutive years [22]. He was 25 when he was first elected to the Farmington City Commission in 1930, and was Mayor from 1939-49. [23] Former Councilman and Mayor of Farmington, chairman of Oakland County Board of Public Works. Trustee of O.U. Foundation. Vice President and Director of Metropolitan Fund and member of Executive Committee of Southeastern Michigan Council of Governments, and past President of the Michigan State Association of Supervisors. [24] Notes: Hannah Hall of Science Completed - 1961 [1] Cost - $1,688,896.39 [2] Architect - O'Dell, Hewlett and Luckenbach Associates 950 North Hunter Boulevard, Birmingham, Mich. [3] Construction - J.A. Fredman, Inc. [4] Square Footage - 89,418 [5] Photograph - [6] History - In 1961 the building was used for temporary housing. [7] On November 21, 1969 it was vandalized by unidentified revolutionaries.[8] Building name - For John A. Hannah, Michigan State University President [9] Notes: Hill House Ground breaking - Dec. 1963 [1] Completed - 1964, 8.5 weeks behind schedule [2] Cost - $783,854.09 [3], $825,000 [4] [5] Funding - Used the $825,000 in bonds, which were the bequest of executive vice president of General Motors Corporation, Ormond E. Hunt of Bloomfield Hills [6] Architect -Meathe, Kessler and Associates, Inc., - 18000 Mack Ave., Grosse Pointe, 24, Mich. [7] [8] [9] Construction - Alfred Smith, Inc., 721 E. Saratoga Ave., Ferndale 20, Mich. [10] [11] [12] Square footage - 42,555 [13], about 40,000 with 100 double rooms for 200 students [14] Photograph - of construction [15][16], near completion [17] History - construction in March and April of 1964 bogged down and in May when electricians and sheet metal workers went on strike for over a month and a shortage of tile workers in the fall of 1964 tripling in existing dorms was necessary. Controversy over converting it to co-ed because of demand for co-ed housing on part of dormitory population. Alice Hakkix, director of residence halls, after conferring with administrators, denied request because building was not designed to be co-educational. [18] In 1965, a build-up of air pressure cause a toilet to explode, sending a freshman girl and another's mother to St. Joseph's Hospital in Pontiac and treated for cuts and released. [19] Notes: Renovation of Dodge Clubhouse - Katke Cousins Clubhouse Cost - $110,000 in gifts and $40,000 loan from OU Foundation [1] Architect - Harley Ellington Pierce and Yee Associates, 26111 Evergreen Rd/. Southfield, Mich. 48076 [2] Construction - Frank Rewold and Son, Inc., P.O. Box 316, Rochester, Mich. 48063 [3] Square footage - 6,038 [4] Photograph - Fire [5], general [6],[7] History - A root cellar near the course was to be converted and expanded into a two-level clubhouse but the lowest bid was $192,000 which was $42,000 more than what was available, so they decided to convert the Dodge Clubhouse. Up until then it was used for faculty meetings, seminars and parties. There was some controversy over whether it should be taken out of use for the sake of the golf course [8] On October 17th of 1978 there was a fire which resulted in $150,000-$175,000 in damages to the rood and attic. It started at 315 p.m. and took firemen a half hour to extinguish. Since there was only one entrance caused difficulty in putting the fire out. The southern portion of the attic was damaged. Two days prior to the fire, a $135,000 renovation plan was to begin the conversion into the clubhouse for Katke-Cousins Golf Course [9] Notes: Oakland University Golf Course - Katke-Cousins Golf Course Cost - $427,000 [1] Funding - Made possible through the interest and generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Katke and Mr. and Mrs. Harold Cousins of Bloomfield Hills.[2] Architect and Construction - Robert D. Beard, Inc., 1241 Pinehurst Dr., Fort Wayne, Indiana 46805 [3] History - It was put o 400 acres of land south of Dodge farmhouse which included land that, at the time was used as a 9-hole golf course by John F. Dodge. Also 3 buildings, Danny's Cabin, Dollhouse and kennel. The kennel was to be the course club house but was destroyed by fire prior to opening the course. [4] Named for- In 1969 Marvin Katke, a member of the O.U. Board of Trustees, began making donations for an unspecified purpose. When it passed $20,000, Katke began discussing with O.U. administrators of ways to use the money. He had previously funded a golf course at Ferris State College. He was joined by Harold Cousins and the total contribution was over one-half million dollars. [5] Notes: Kettering Magnetics Test Laboratory Dedication - April 19,, 1964 [1], May 19, 1964 [2] Cost - $59,143 [3] Funding - Two grants, both $60,000 given by Kettering Foundation and General Motors [4]. Grant of $120,000 from Charles F. Kettering Foundation [5] Construction - J.A. Fredman, Inc. [6] Square Footage - 3,560 [7] Photograph - exterior [8], general [9] [10] History - The lab's construction in 1964 was the result of a hobby begun in 1935 by the late Charles F. Kettering, former head of General Motor's Physics Research Laboratory in Milford, Mich. It was built for Kettering's former assistant, Gifford B. Scott. Schott, who became head of the G.M. Lab, carried on the research after Kettering's death in 1958. Since Gifford's retirement in the early 70's, the lab has fallen into the hands of the O.U. Physics Department, under the direction of Professor Williamson. Professor Williamson described the lab's location at O.U. as pure chance. It seems that G.M. wanted to donate the lab to some university after Scott's research was completed in the hopes that it could be of some future use. They also needed some location isolated enough to keep the very delicate equipment free from extraneous magnetic fields produced by machinery and cars. [9] It was relocated from the Kettering Magnetics Laboratory south of Dayton, Ohio [10] Name - Charles F. Kettering was associated with Cadillac Motor Car Corporation in 1910, Delco Dayton Electric Company, and was director of General Motors Research Laboratory [11] G.M. workers helped him to work on the idea of a gyromagnet in iron [12] Notes: Kresge Library Ground breaking - Oct. 17, 1960 [1][2] Dedication - May 12, 1962 [3] [4] [5] Cost - $1,193,103.55 [6] Funding - Kresge Foundation grant of $500,000 toward $1,500,000 construction costs [7] Architect - Swanson Associates, Inc. [8] Construction - J.A. Fredman, Inc. [9] [10] Square footage - 76,589 [11] Photograph - of dedication [12] [13], new roof construction [14], construction [15], moving books [16], general [17] History - A new roof cost $79,560 and came out of emergency appropriation given by the state to O.U. [18] It was Michigan's first fully automated computerized library circulation system [19] Building name - Stanley S. Kresge, President of Kresge Foundation [20] Sebastian S. Kresge, founder of S.S. Kresge Company and Kresge Foundation which provided half a million dollars for construction of the building [21] Kresge Foundation was created by Sebastian S. Kresge in 1924. He opened his first store on Detroit's Woodward Avenue in 1897, his second in Port Huron, and his third in Pontiac in 1900 [22] Notes: Hollie L. Lepley Sport Center - Intramural Building Ground breaking - Oct. 12, 1961 [1] Dedication - March 12, 1962 [2] Cost - $1,320,063.18 [3] Architect - O'Dell, Hewlett and Luckenbach, Inc. [3] Construction - Erickson and Lindstrom Construction Company, 310 Sill Building, Flint 2, Mich.[5] Square footage - 74, 027 [6] Photograph - in construction [7], groundbreaking [8] History - Construction was halted by a long strike by Detroit Union Locals (reinforced steel workers). 95% of the work was stopped. [11] Building name- for Hollie Lepley, Physical Education Director. He was dunked in the pool at the dedication. [12] Notes: Oakland Center Completed - 1959 [1] Cost - $523,682.57 [2] Architect - Swanson Associates, Inc. [3] Construction - J.A. Fredman, Inc. [4] Square footage - 34, 776 [5] Photograph - Architect's sketch of expansion [6] Notes: Meadowbrook Hall Renovations Cost - 176,078.87 [1] Funding - Renovations were made possible by a grant of $275,000 from the trustees of Matilda R. Wilson Fund. The home and its furnishings were turned over to the University to fulfill the wish in Mrs. Wilson's will that the hall be operated as a cultural center. [2] Architect - Tarapata-MacMahon-Paulsen Corp. , 1191 West Square Lake Rd., Bloomfield Hills, Mich. 48013 [3] Construction - Waterford Construction Company, 4865 Highland Rd., Pontiac, Mich. 48054 [4] Photograph - Interior and exterior [5], air view of bldgs and grounds [6] History - Alfred G. Wilson designed the house in the late 1920's after touring many mansions in Europe, and, at a cost of 43.5 million, built Meadowbrook Hall. It is the largest home in Michigan. It has 100 rooms and contains the largest pipe organ in Michigan. There were 1,400 acres of rolling land which in 1957 was donated by the Wilsons to Michigan State University for the purpose of establishing another college. Public tours started in 1971 [7] Meadowbrook Hall, Sunset House and many service buildings were donated by the Wilsons. [8] Notes: Van Wagoner House - Dormitory #5 Completed - 1965 [1], [2] Cost - $767,930.65 [3], $900,000 [4] Architect - Meathe, Kessler and Associated, Inc. [5] Construction - A.Z. Shmina and Sons Co., 6275 Schaefer Rd., Dearborn, Mich. 48126 [6] Square footage - 43,305, 200 students [7] Photograph - Under construction [8], record-breaking shower sitting [9], Murray D. Van Wagoner [10] History - Construction was slowed due to winter weather and steelworker's strike. [11]. In 1967 a freshman, Irwin Bruade became the nation's number one inter-collegiate shower sitter at 41 hours. [12] Building name - Murray D. Van Wagoner, Democratic Governor of Michigan and resident of the Oakland County area. He graduated from Pontiac High School and the University of Michigan with a degree in civil engineering. Active in State Highway Commission. Students, when faced with the prospect of living in a nameless dormitory contrived the greatly original appellation "Dorm Phyve." [13] There was a fire on Oct. 25, 1973 at 230 a.m. in the student lounge on the 3rd floor. The flames were contained in the lounge, but there was heavy smoke damage throughout the building. There were no injuries. [14] Notes: Vandenberg Hall - Dining Hall and Dormitory #6 Completed - 1966 [1] Cost - $3,786,402,36 [2] Funding - Financed with a loan secured through revenue bonds and repaid with room and board fees [3] Architect - Ralph R. Calder Architect and Associates, 1600 Mutual Building, 28 Adams Avenue West, Detroit 26, Mich. [4] Construction - J.A. Ferguson Construction Co., 23861 W. McNichols Rd., Detroit, Mich. [5] Square footage - 177,593, 566 students [6], 7 floors for 572 students [7] Photograph - in construction [8], [9], 10], general [11], [12]] History - In the fall of 1972 there was a flood caused by an overflowing toilet. [13] On Oct. 25, 1968 a bomb scare had several R.A.s and officers searching the dorm for the bomb. After several students were evacuated, suspicion arose that it was a cover for a narcotics bust. Nothing illegal was found. [14] Building name - Arthur Vandenberg, Republican Senator from Michigan for many years. [15] He actively participated in the formation of the United Nations. He was a member of the U.S. Senate from 1928-53, and was the U.S. delegate to the first and second U.N. General Assemblies. [16] Notes: Varner Hall of Performing Arts - Classroom-Office Building #1 Cost - $4,279,971.37 [1] $4,725,000 [2] $4,400,000 [3] Funding - $1,000,000 grant from the Office of Education [4] Architect - O'Dell, Hewlett and Luckenbach, Inc., Birmingham, Mich. [5] Construction - Spence Brothers, 417 McCoskry St., Saginaw, Mich. 48605 [6] Square footage - 119,939 [7] Building name - Derwood Varner, Vice President at Michigan State University met with John Hannah at Meadowbrook Hall in 1956 and agreed upon the beginning of the university. [8] Chancellor of Oakland University [9] He left to become Chancellor of the University of Nebraska [10], [11] Notes: Observatory Cost - $14,663 [1] Funding - $10,000 grant from the O.U. Fund [2] Architect - Oakland University [3] Construction - Wake-Pratt Construction Co., 2033 Austin, Troy, Mich. 48084 [4] Square footage - 416 [5] Photograph - of 14.5 foot diameter dome [6] History - It was designed and manufactured by the Ash Manufacturing Company, Inc. of Plainfield, Illinois and was sent as unassembled components to the University and [Ash] provided a trained technician to supervise the installation. The telescope was built by Oakland University student, Jerry Persha, with the assistance of Rochester Adams High School senior, Danny O'Dowd and the Physics Club of Oakland University [7] Danny O'Dowd was the son of O.U. President, Donald O'Dowd and later attended California Institute of Technology [8] Notes: Pryale House Ground breaking - Nov. 6, 1962 [1] Completed - 1963 [2] Cost - $335731.93 [3] Funding - Part of a gift of $450,000 by the Pryale Foundation. [4] Architect - L.G. Redstone Architects, Inc. [5] Construction - Frank Rewold and Son, Inc.345 Griggs St., Rochester, Mich. [6]Square footage - 20,829, 96 students [7] Photograph - [8] History - Work started after a month-long strike of the Detroit area structural steel workers [9] Building name - Mr. and Mrs. Harry M. Pryale of Bloomfield Hills. He was former President and board chairman of Baldwin Rubber Company of Pontiac. [10], [11] Their original gift is $450,000 of which $345,000 was used to build the dormitory. The balance was used for other campus projects. [11] Notes: Jan and Don O'Dowd Hall - Classroom-Office Building #2 Ground breaking - Nov. 2, 1978 [1] Dedication - July 17, 1981 [2] Cost - $7,538,280.07 [3] Funding - H.E.W. grand for $520,717 and $7,979,283 applicant's cash funds, $1,450,000 state appropriation, $7,050,000 building authority [4] Major part of 8.5 million on construction costs were to come from public sale of revenue bonds. [5] Architect - Tarpata, MacMahon, Paulsen Associates, Inc. [6] Construction - Etkin, Johnson and Korb, Inc., 10111 Capital Ave., Oak Park, Mich. 48237 [7] Photographs - In construction [8], drawing [9], interior [10], cartoon [11], moving into hall [12], general [13][14][15][16] History - A series of labor strikes and breaking of windows delayed finishing. The windows cost $1,000 each. [17] The glass manufacturer, Libby-Owens-Ford agreed to replace the more than 400 exterior panels on the 8.5 million dollar building. Cost of replacement was about one-half million dollars. 60 windows broke. 76 days were lost due to labor strikes. [18] Student labor helped to keep moving costs down [19] Building name - Donald D. O'Dowd taught psychology full time and M.S.O.U. and was appointed Dean of the University in July of 1961.[20] University Provost [21] Left to become Vice-Chancellor of the State University of New York [22] Served as President from 1970-1979, replacing Varner when O.U. received its independence from Michigan State University in 1970. He became the institution's first President. [23] Notes: Public Safety and Service Building Dedication - Aug. 19, 1975 [1] Cost - $823,900.30 [2] Architect - Denyes and Freeman Associates, Inc., 10 West Huron Street, Suite 207, Pontiac, Mich. 48058 [3] Construction - F.W. Fordon Company, 21255 Middlebelt Rd., Farmington, Mich. 48024 [4] Square footage - 24,524 [5] Photograph - Drawing [6] History - The building was built where commuter lot "B" once was located. [7] Notes: Saints and Sinners Fountain Ground breaking - April 19, 1976 [1] Dedication - Sept. 9, 1976 [2] Cost - $63,505.39 [3], $68,000 [4] Funding - Received $100,000 from Josephine E. Gordon Foundation of Detroit to commission sculptures. Money for the project was to come from capital outlay funds, the Irene C. Wellock Trust, and the University's Presidents Club, a group of individuals supporting the institution and its programs. [5] Consultant - Johnson, Johnson and Ray, Inc., 303 North Main St., Ann Arbor, Mich. 48104 [6] Construction - Wydan Construction, Inc., P.O. Box 1111, Southgate, Mich. 48195 [7] Square footage - 25 x 50 foot oval, 7 bronze pieces, each 9'6" high [8] Sculptor - Marshall Fredericks of Royal Oak [9] Photograph - [10], [11], [12] History - Craig Redfern, member of the Commuter Council staged a contest for students to nickname the fountain. [13] Notes: Trumbull Terrace Completed - 1965 [1] Cost - $104,951.69 [2] Funding - It was made possible by a gift in excess of $80,000 from Mr. and Mrs. George T. Trumbull [3] Architect - O'Dell, Hewlett and Luckenbach [4] Construction - Garascia Construction Co., 1397 Hawthorne Rd., Grosse Pointe 36, Mich. [5] Square footage - 3,392 [6] Photograph - drawing [7] Name - For Mr. and Mrs. George Trumbull [8] Notes: Matilda R. Wilson Hall Completed - 1966 [1] Cost - $2,232,534.87 [2] Architect - O'Dell, Hewlett and Luckenbach Associates [3] Construction - Shurrer Construction Company, 2431 Pontiac Rd., Pontiac, Mich [4] Square footage - 98,153 [5] Photography - Architect's drawing [6], Laying of cornerstone [7] History - A canopy was originally planned to extend over the road to N. Foundation Hall [8] Building name - Matilda Wilson was the wife of Alfred G. Wilson. In 1956 they offered the 1,600 acre Meadowbrook Farms Estate to M.S.U for the construction of a new college to serve the Oakland County area. They gave $2 million to begin constructing the first two classrooms and administration buildings, North and South Foundation Halls. She was very active in university activities [9] On April 7, 1962 Alfred G. Wilson died of a heart attack in Scottsdale, Arizona [10] On Sept. 9, 1967 she died in Brussels, Belgium, of a massive heart attack after being hospitalized for 24 hours with an intestinal infection. She was in Brussels with Mr. and Mrs. Harold Clark, managers of her estate, on a horse buying trip. She was one month short of her 84th birthday. She was active in the Salvation Army as President and Honorary President.[11] Notes: Document posted on the OU website
with the permission of the author, Al Smitley, August,
2002. |
