Samford Hall

William J. Samford Hall
General information
Location Auburn, Alabama
Coordinates 32°36′17″N 85°28′58″W / 32.604738°N 85.482736°WCoordinates: 32°36′17″N 85°28′58″W / 32.604738°N 85.482736°W
Completed 1888
Owner Auburn University
Height
Antenna spire 170 ft (52 m)
Roof 154 ft (47 m)[1]
Technical details
Floor count 4
Floor area 49,376 sq ft (4,587.2 m2)
Design and construction
Architect Bruce and Morgan
Main contractor James Smith

William J. Samford Hall is a structure on the campus of Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama. It is an icon of Auburn University and houses the school's administration. The building is named for William J. Samford, the Governor of Alabama from 1900 to 1901.

History

Samford Hall in the l890s

When Auburn University (as East Alabama Male College) opened in 1859, classes were held in a structure named "Old Main" on the current site of Samford Hall. On June 24, 1887, Old Main was destroyed by fire. The following year, Samford Hall (then simply known as the "Main Building") was constructed, using, in part, bricks salvaged from the ruins of Old Main. The design of Samford Hall roughly mirrored that of Old Main, except that Samford Hall had two main entrances instead of Old Main's one, and on Samford one of the two flanking towers was considerably taller and was constructed to contain a clock.[2] In 1889, a clockworks and bell were added to the taller tower.[3]

Rear side of Samford Hall

Through the late 19th century, Samford Hall was the college's main classroom building and contained the library. In May 1929, the building was officially named for William J. Samford.[4] In 1941, the tower's mechanical clock was converted to run on electricity, and in 1977, a carillon was added. Samford Hall underwent major renovations in 1971, and the original clockworks were replaced in 1995.[5] Today, Samford Hall houses the school's administration, accounting, planning, and public relations offices.[6]

Clock tower

Samford Hall at night

Samford Hall's clock tower is the most recognized part of the building. The original clockworks were built by the Seth Thomas Clock Company of Thomaston, Connecticut. These clockworks were replaced in 1995 by a clock and electronic carillon made by the Verdin Company of Cincinnati, Ohio.[5] A portion of the original clockworks and an original clockface are on display in the reception area of Samford Hall. The Samford Hall carillon plays the Westminster Chimes on the quarter-hour, and plays the Auburn University fight song, "War Eagle", a few seconds after 12:00 noon.[3]

According to a University legend, students once led a cow up the tower stairs as a prank.[7]

"Holiday Tree" naming controversy

Since 2000, an evergreen tree in front of Samford Hall has been the site of the school's Christmas tree lighting ceremony. The decision to officially refer to the tree as a "Holiday Tree" (rather than a "Christmas Tree") resulted in controversy in 2005 when commentators on townhall.com and World Net Daily criticized Auburn University's choice of names as an example of political correctness gone amok. As a compromise, the ceremony was in subsequent years renamed the "Holiday Celebration featuring the Lighting of the Christmas Tree." [8]

Notes

  1. ↑ Amy Weaver, "What time is it?", Opelika-Auburn News, March 11, 2007.
  2. ↑ Mickey Logue and Jack Simms, Auburn, A Pictorial History of the Loveliest Village (Auburn: s.n., 1996), Mollie Hollifield, Auburn: Loveliest Village of the Plain (S.l.: s.n., 1955)
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Brian Dennig, Samford Hall Clock Tower and Samford Carillon, accessed March 11, 2007.
  4. ↑ Auburn University Libraries, History of Samford Hall, accessed March 11, 2007.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Roy Summerford, Auburn University's "Big Sam" Gets His Hands Back, Auburn University News Release, April 27, 1995, accessed March 11, 2007.
  6. ↑ Auburn University Libraries, Samford Hall, accessed March 11, 2007.
  7. ↑ http://issuu.com/alumniau/docs/summer_2010?mode=a_p
  8. ↑ Hiram Hover, "The War on the War on Xmas Goes to College", Hiram Hover, December 6, 2005, accessed March 11, 2007

External links