Gatke Hall
Encyclopedia
Gatke Hall is the second-oldest building at Willamette University
in Salem, Oregon
, United States
. A two-story structure, it was originally built in downtown Salem in 1903 across the street from the Marion County Courthouse and served as a post office
. The Beaux Arts styled building was moved to the university
in 1938 and first served as the home to the law school
.
. It had a steel and brick frame with a sandstone exterior. The sandstone came from Ashland, Oregon
, along with the granite used in the building, while the wood and bricks used came from Salem. On April 1, 1903, the building opened and remained as the city's post office until a new federal building (currently the State Executive Office Building) opened on October 16, 1937.
In 1938, the building was moved to its present location at 12th and State Streets on Willamette University
's campus. The building was moved intact on rollers down State Street in a process that took six months. Once on campus the structure served as home to Willamette’s law school
. Gatke was placed at the same location as the original campus building built in the 1840s. That three story building originally housed the Oregon Institute
, but burned down in 1871. In 1939, the College of Law moved into its new home.
Then in 1952 the building received the Lady Justice statue that had adorned the Marion County
Courthouse. Gatke housed the College of Law until 1967 when it relocated across campus to its current home in the Truman Wesley Collins Legal Center. With the move, the law school also took a portion of the ornate grillwork that had been custom made for the school. In 1967, Willamette's political science department took over the building and remained there until 1986.
In 1984, the building was added to the City of Salem’s list of historic properties as the second oldest building on campus after Waller Hall
. In 1986, the political science department moved out and the facility was converted into administrative offices with the basement converted to a sculpture studio around 1990. In February 2007, 20 year-old Christopher Curry leaped out of a second story window of the building while trying to elude police. He was apprehended in a nearby building and arrested by Oregon State Police
.
directly across State Street to the north. The hall is named after former political science
professor Robert Moulton Gatke. Gatke was the school’s first professor in that field and taught for 53 years at the institution. The exterior of the building is constructed with sandstone and has a metal roof. Beaux-Arts style in design, the structure also has Italian palazzo elements in its architecture. Inside, Gatke features the original marble floor and intricate woodwork. The building currently is home to an integrated lab of the exercise science department, a faculty research office, and some offices of the university’s IT department.
Willamette University
Willamette University is an American private institution of higher learning located in Salem, Oregon. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest university in the Western United States. Willamette is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges, and is made up of an undergraduate College of Liberal Arts and...
in Salem, Oregon
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. A two-story structure, it was originally built in downtown Salem in 1903 across the street from the Marion County Courthouse and served as a post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
. The Beaux Arts styled building was moved to the university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
in 1938 and first served as the home to the law school
Law school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
.
History
In 1901, construction began on the first post office building in Salem. The Beaux Arts style structure was designed by architect James Knox Taylor. Prior postal locations were housed in privately owned buildings. The new two-story structure was erected between the Marion County Courthouse and the Oregon State CapitolOregon State Capitol
The Oregon State Capitol is the building housing the state legislature and the offices of the governor, secretary of state, and treasurer of the U.S. state of Oregon. It is located in the state capital, Salem. The current building, constructed from 1936 to 1938, and expanded in 1977, is the third...
. It had a steel and brick frame with a sandstone exterior. The sandstone came from Ashland, Oregon
Ashland, Oregon
Ashland is a city in Jackson County, Oregon, United States, near Interstate 5 and the California border, and located in the south end of the Rogue Valley. It was named after Ashland County, Ohio, point of origin of Abel Helman and other founders, and secondarily for Ashland, Kentucky, where other...
, along with the granite used in the building, while the wood and bricks used came from Salem. On April 1, 1903, the building opened and remained as the city's post office until a new federal building (currently the State Executive Office Building) opened on October 16, 1937.
In 1938, the building was moved to its present location at 12th and State Streets on Willamette University
Willamette University
Willamette University is an American private institution of higher learning located in Salem, Oregon. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest university in the Western United States. Willamette is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges, and is made up of an undergraduate College of Liberal Arts and...
's campus. The building was moved intact on rollers down State Street in a process that took six months. Once on campus the structure served as home to Willamette’s law school
Willamette University College of Law
Willamette University College of Law is a private law school located in Salem, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1842, Willamette University is the oldest university in the Western United States...
. Gatke was placed at the same location as the original campus building built in the 1840s. That three story building originally housed the Oregon Institute
Oregon Institute
The Oregon Institute was a school located in the Willamette Valley of the Oregon Country during the 19th century. Begun in 1842, it was the first school built for European-Americans west of Missouri. Founded by members of the Methodist Mission, it was located in what is now Salem, Oregon, United...
, but burned down in 1871. In 1939, the College of Law moved into its new home.
Then in 1952 the building received the Lady Justice statue that had adorned the Marion County
Marion County, Oregon
Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It was originally named the Champooick District, after Champoeg, a meeting place on the Willamette River. On September 3, 1849, the territorial legislature renamed it in honor of Francis Marion, a Continental Army general of the...
Courthouse. Gatke housed the College of Law until 1967 when it relocated across campus to its current home in the Truman Wesley Collins Legal Center. With the move, the law school also took a portion of the ornate grillwork that had been custom made for the school. In 1967, Willamette's political science department took over the building and remained there until 1986.
In 1984, the building was added to the City of Salem’s list of historic properties as the second oldest building on campus after Waller Hall
Waller Hall
Waller Hall is the oldest building on the campus of Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, United States. Built in 1867 as University Hall, the five-story, red-brick structure was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975...
. In 1986, the political science department moved out and the facility was converted into administrative offices with the basement converted to a sculpture studio around 1990. In February 2007, 20 year-old Christopher Curry leaped out of a second story window of the building while trying to elude police. He was apprehended in a nearby building and arrested by Oregon State Police
Oregon State Police
The Oregon State Police is the main state law enforcement agency of the U.S. state of Oregon. They have been charged to enforce all of Oregon's criminal laws and to help local law enforcement agencies with their duties...
.
Details
The building sits on the northeast section of the school's campus at the corner of 12th and State streets, with the Oregon Supreme Court BuildingOregon Supreme Court Building
The Oregon Supreme Court Building is the home to the Oregon Supreme Court, Oregon Court of Appeals, and the Oregon Judicial Department. Located in the state’s capitol of Salem, it is Oregon’s oldest state government building...
directly across State Street to the north. The hall is named after former political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
professor Robert Moulton Gatke. Gatke was the school’s first professor in that field and taught for 53 years at the institution. The exterior of the building is constructed with sandstone and has a metal roof. Beaux-Arts style in design, the structure also has Italian palazzo elements in its architecture. Inside, Gatke features the original marble floor and intricate woodwork. The building currently is home to an integrated lab of the exercise science department, a faculty research office, and some offices of the university’s IT department.