Waldschmidt Hall
Encyclopedia
Waldschmidt Hall is an academic building at the University of Portland
in Portland, Oregon
, United States. Constructed in 1891 as West Hall, the building was originally part of the now defunct Portland University
located in North Portland overlooking the Willamette River
. The Romanesque style
structure built of brick and stone stands five stories tall. The hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1977 and renovated in 1992, the same year it took the current name. Waldschmidt, the oldest building on campus, now houses the school’s administration offices and some classrooms.
In 1901, Archbishop Alexander Christie purchased the campus and building in a trade of two properties the church owned plus $1 in an effort to start a Catholic affiliated school. In September 1901, Christie opened Columbia University with West Hall as the sole building on campus. A student at the school apparently drowned in the Willamette in 1911 and is believed to haunt the building. The school changed its name to the University of Portland in 1935.
West Hall was designated a historic landmark by Portland in 1970, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 22, 1977. In 1990, the school embarked on a three renovation project of the structure to bring it up to code and prevent it from falling apart. Repairs included fixing sagging walls and floors, as well a retrofitting the building to meet modern seismic standards. The $5.5 million project utilized the original blueprints and old pictures to maintain the original look and feel of the building. Other work included making it accessible to the handicapped, replacing windows, and restoring the hardwood floors. Paid for in part by private donations, the project was completed in October 1993.
In October 1992, the University of Portland re-named the building as Waldschmidt Hall in honor of former school president Paul Waldschmidt. After renovations were completed in 1993, the hall housed the administrative offices of the university, including student services, and some classrooms. On May 1, 2001, the United States Postal Service
dedicated a commemorative post card in honor of the university’s 100 anniversary that featured Waldschmidt Hall. Part of the Postal Services Historic Preservation series, the computer generated image of the building was created by John Pirman.
in architectural style, he five story structure has stone, brick, and cast iron on the exterior. The hall was patterned after Harvard University
’s Sever Hall
and includes a wide, domed entrance. Measuring 30000 ft2, Waldschmidt is the oldest building the University of Portland campus.
The interior of the building features walls paneled with cherry wood, oak flooring, a carpeted stairway, large windows, modern furnishings, and old photographs of the hall hung on some walls. As of 2009, Waldschmidt Hall houses the university’s administrative offices including admissions and the registrar, as well as some classrooms. Some of the red bricks outside of the top floor have initials carved into them by former students.
University of Portland
The University of Portland is a private Roman Catholic university located in Portland, Oregon. It is affiliated with the Congregation of Holy Cross and is the sister school of the University of Notre Dame. Founded in 1901, UP has a student body of about 3,600 students...
in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, United States. Constructed in 1891 as West Hall, the building was originally part of the now defunct Portland University
Portland University
Portland University was a private, Methodist post-secondary school in Portland, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1891 in a split from Willamette University, the school closed in 1900. The campus was located in what is now the University Park neighborhood and later became home of the University of...
located in North Portland overlooking the Willamette River
Willamette River
The Willamette River is a major tributary of the Columbia River, accounting for 12 to 15 percent of the Columbia's flow. The Willamette's main stem is long, lying entirely in northwestern Oregon in the United States...
. The Romanesque style
Romanesque Revival architecture
Romanesque Revival is a style of building employed beginning in the mid 19th century inspired by the 11th and 12th century Romanesque architecture...
structure built of brick and stone stands five stories tall. The hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1977 and renovated in 1992, the same year it took the current name. Waldschmidt, the oldest building on campus, now houses the school’s administration offices and some classrooms.
History
Members of the Methodist Episcopal church founded Portland University in 1891 in Portland and began raising funds to open the school. That year the university built a five story tall brick building at a cost of $32,500. Named West Hall when it opened, it first was used as a residence hall, the school’s chapel, and for classrooms, as it was the only building on campus. Portland University suffered financial problems and had to abandon the campus after defaulting on loans in 1896. The campus and West Hall then became the property of the prior owners.In 1901, Archbishop Alexander Christie purchased the campus and building in a trade of two properties the church owned plus $1 in an effort to start a Catholic affiliated school. In September 1901, Christie opened Columbia University with West Hall as the sole building on campus. A student at the school apparently drowned in the Willamette in 1911 and is believed to haunt the building. The school changed its name to the University of Portland in 1935.
West Hall was designated a historic landmark by Portland in 1970, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 22, 1977. In 1990, the school embarked on a three renovation project of the structure to bring it up to code and prevent it from falling apart. Repairs included fixing sagging walls and floors, as well a retrofitting the building to meet modern seismic standards. The $5.5 million project utilized the original blueprints and old pictures to maintain the original look and feel of the building. Other work included making it accessible to the handicapped, replacing windows, and restoring the hardwood floors. Paid for in part by private donations, the project was completed in October 1993.
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
dedicated a commemorative post card in honor of the university’s 100 anniversary that featured Waldschmidt Hall. Part of the Postal Services Historic Preservation series, the computer generated image of the building was created by John Pirman.
Details
Frederick Manson White, Richard H. Martin, Jr., and William F. McCaw served as the three original architects for the building. RomanesqueRomanesque Revival architecture
Romanesque Revival is a style of building employed beginning in the mid 19th century inspired by the 11th and 12th century Romanesque architecture...
in architectural style, he five story structure has stone, brick, and cast iron on the exterior. The hall was patterned after Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
’s Sever Hall
Sever Hall
Sever Hall is a notable building designed by famed American architect H. H. Richardson. It is located on the grounds of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, within Harvard Yard, and is now a National Historic Landmark.-History:...
and includes a wide, domed entrance. Measuring 30000 ft2, Waldschmidt is the oldest building the University of Portland campus.
The interior of the building features walls paneled with cherry wood, oak flooring, a carpeted stairway, large windows, modern furnishings, and old photographs of the hall hung on some walls. As of 2009, Waldschmidt Hall houses the university’s administrative offices including admissions and the registrar, as well as some classrooms. Some of the red bricks outside of the top floor have initials carved into them by former students.