Clemson House

Clemson House is a residence hall located on the campus of Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina.

Construction

Clemson House was built in 1950 by Daniel Construction Company of Greenville, owned and directed by Charles Daniel. Clemson House was designed by William G. Lyles and the firm of Bissett, Carlisle and Wolf Architects. It was opened on November 1, 1950. The hotel was constructed on a hill overlooking Clemson University's campus. It is located across from Bowman Field and in close proximity to the Clemson University of Visitor and Alumni Center. The historic Tillman Hall and Memorial Stadium are visible from the front facing rooms of the house, and on clear days the Blue Ridge Mountains can be seen in the distance.[1]

Building Features

Exterior

The exterior of Clemson House features a covered slate-paved porch, a patio, a basketball court, and a luggage drop-off behind the building. Also featured outside of Clemson House is a stainless steel tiger sculpture, freely mounted and created by Charleston Artist Willard Hirsch.[2]

Rooms and Apartments

Clemson House holds seven floors of rooms and apartments, as well as a three-bedroom penthouse.[2]

Clemson House currently houses freshmen students and visiting faculty. As a dorm facility each room houses 2-4 extra long twin beds. While serving as a hotel, the rooms of Clemson House featured oversized single bed, individual desks and chairs, closets, wardrobes and/or bookshelves, chests-of-drawers, private bath, kitchenette (in apartment units), wall-mounted mirror in bathroom, tack boards, carpet, air conditioning, Venetian blinds, high-speed internet access, basic DirecTV service.[3]

The Clemson House also has a variety of rooms that may function as meeting or conference rooms. These rooms include the Lila Holmes Ballrom, Virginia Poole Room, Virginia Shanklin Room, Pool/Shanklin Room, and the Joseph Laurie Young Penthouse. These rooms are available for use and rent by Clemson University and external groups.[4]

Other Commodities

On the first level is a barber shop, frequently visited by faculty and students alike.

Clemson House also features a free laundry room and a workout room located in the lower level.[4]

History

Before Clemson University became coeducational in 1955, Clemson College was an all-male military school for nearly 62 years.[5] During the time that Clemson was an all-male college, the college hosted formal dances. Women from nearby colleges and towns would serve as "chaperones" to the men at cadet dances. Before Clemson House was built in 1950, The Clemson Club Hotel stood in its place. For overnight stays there were no hotel facilities, and many women would stay in the Clemson Club Hotel.[6] The Clemson Club Hotel was a large boarding house that provided rooms and apartments for faculty and their families.[2] When there was room, the building made room for some of the women staying in Clemson overnight.[6]

Former Clemson University President Franklin Poole received a report in 1948 that called for an apartment-style hotel to be built in place of the older and dilapidated hotel that sat on the hill across from Bowman Field on Clemson University's campus. The house-hotel called for meeting rooms, a large lounge, and a more modernized and upscale look. The purpose of its construction was to house faculty, staff and retired faculty members. The project hoped to attract new young faculty and their families by providing convenient on-campus living. Soon after its completion, the hotel-apartment house would house faculty and their families and employ students to work as waitresses and luggage carriers.[1]

The Clemson House was known as "Carolina's smartest hotel.". The hotel featured a large open lounge, the restaurant named "The Saber Room", and a non alcohol-selling club, "Tiger Tavern".[1] A 1957 advertisement for Clemson House claimed, "The Clemson House represents the absolute ultimate in modern cuisine. . . Renowned throughout the Southeast for its fine food and incomparable hospitality".[7] Upon its initial opening, the Clemson House served as a place for students to hang out. It was deemed as "one of the better hangouts" as students would enjoy Tiger Tavern downstairs or play card games in the open lounge.[8]

The hotel also featured a "Radio House" until the 1980s. This radio studio was built during the construction of the building and would broadcast regularly. Normal early morning broadcasts would include weather reports, local news, and programs focused on the concerns of home, farm, and domestics. In the evening, reports would be broadcast concerning agricultural commodity markets and stocks. On occasion, pre-recorded music would be played as well as some talk shows. President Sikes would often use the radio station as a medium to communicate with the student body.[1]

Several people of importance or fame have stayed at the Clemson House. Of these include a number of South Carolina governors and U.S. senators, U.S. Secretary of State Dean Rusk, and violinist Yehudi Menuhin, and opera singer Beverly Sills. Several actors of The Midnight Man (including Burt Lancaster) stayed in the penthouse suite during the film's production.[1]

Clemson House Today

Functions & Services

Today Clemson House serves several functions. It serves as a residence hall, dining hall, barber shop, laundromat, gym, hotel, and conference area.

Clemson House serves as a residence hall for entering freshman students of Clemson University. Clemson House is home to approximately 400 men and women, who are housed separately in different rooms on co-ed halls. Students are housed in apartment-style rooms of two, three, or four people. [3]

Clemson House also functions as a location of one of three dining halls on Clemson University's campus. The Clemson House Dining Hall is located on the first floor and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week during fall and spring semesters.[9]

Also featured on the first floor is a barber shop.[3]

The second floor of Clemson House houses students belonging to The Civics and Service House organization of Clemson University. These students are service- oriented and instill a desire to service the Clemson-area community. Founded in Fall 2005, The Civics and Service House offers a way for students to do this while exploring service career options and investigate social problems.[10]

Clemson House also serves as a hotel for visiting faculty and extended stay housing. There are six fully furnished rooms on the seventh floor of the building and are available upon request. Stays must be at a minimum of two weeks.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Reel, Jerome (2011). The High Seminary. Clemson, SC: Clemson University Digital.
  2. 1 2 3 Bryan, Wright (1979). Clemson: an Informal History of the University, 1889-1979. Columbia, SC: R.L. Bryan.
  3. 1 2 3 "Clemson House". Retrieved 28 October 2011.
  4. 1 2 3 "The Office of Summer Programs". Retrieved 28 October 2011.
  5. ↑ "History". Retrieved 28 October 2011.
  6. 1 2 Riley, Helene M. (2002). Clemson University. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Pub.
  7. ↑ TAPS 1957. Clemson, SC: Clemson A&M College. 1957.
  8. ↑ TAPS 1952. Clemson, SC: Clemson A&M College. 1952.
  9. ↑ "Dining Locations: Clemson House". Retrieved 28 October 2011.
  10. ↑ "Civics and Service House". Retrieved 28 October 2011.

Sources

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