Waldo Hall - Oregon State University National Historic District - Corvallis, OR - NRHP Historic Districts - Contributing Buildings on Waymarking.com

Located along SW Jefferson Way is Waldo Hall, erected in 1907 and listed as site #102 in the Oregon State University National Historic District. The following verbiage is taken from the Oregon Historic Sites Database website (link below) to describe this building's history:

Architectural History:
Waldo Hall is a four-story, Richardsonian Romanesque style building that measures 96’ x 240’ and encompasses 73,404 sq feet. The building has a shallow hipped roof with steep front gable, and is made of brick. Ornamental cream-colored pressed brick cover the exterior front and sides, and red brick is featured on the back, around windows, and as highlights on corners. The building’s main entrance is two stories with an arch of pioneer sandstone carved into a leaf pattern. “Waldo Hall,” “1907” imprinted in stone above the arch, which is flanked by two short granite columns. There are four-story towers flanking the entry, each with decorative panels under the tower caps bearing carvings with naturalistic forms. Alterations: Waldo Hall received its first renovations in 1939 when the college replaced the wiring, sewer main, copper gutter, pluming fixtures, and painted and decorated parlors. In 1959 it was renovated for Men's Dormitory and renovated in 1966 for office space. In 1991 an elevator was added, roofing downspouts were replaced, and windows were painted. Exterior added in 1998. Landscape: Waldo Hall is on OSU’s main campus and is bordered by Jefferson Way to the north, Snell Hall to the east, and Langton Hall to the west. Setting: Waldo Hall is located just east of the center of OSU’s main campus, in sector C. Alterations: 1939: replaced wiring, sewer main, copper gutter, pluming fixtures, painted and decorated parlors; 1959: renovated for Men's Dormitory; 1966: renovated for office space; 1990's added elevator, replaced roofing downspouts, painted windows; 1998 added exterior paint. A major renovation was performed in recent years and the fourth floor has been reopened after many decades of being blocked off and closed.

Background History
Waldo Hall was the first dormitory that was constructed for use by women. Previously, women were housed in boarding houses, or, from 1892-1907, Alpha Hall, which was built for men and later converted into a women’s dorm when men were relocated to Fairbanks Hall. The hall was named after Clara Humason Waldo, a proponent of higher education for women, who was appointed as regent of Oregon Agricultural College in 1905—the first women to hold the position. She was a regent until 1919. She was also the first women to address graduates at commencement at OAC in 1923. Waldo Hall originally had 115 double occupancy rooms, as well as kitchen and dining facilities, a reception room, laundry room, and apartments for female faculty members. Also, it is thought to be the first dormitory on campus to have indoor plumbing and toilets. It remained the largest female dormitory at OSU until it was converted for men’s use in 1959. Males had occupied the dormitory prior to this date, however. During both World Wars, Waldo Hall housed military men stationed on campus. During WWI the women moved into the fraternity houses, and the men there were required to live in the men’s dorm or barracks. Waldo’s third floor was temporarily converted into a student hospital, as the college health center was taken over and staffed by the military. Waldo Hall remained a men’s dormitory until it was renovated for office space in 1966. Since then it has provided offices for the Department of Anthropology, Health and Health Care Admin, OSU Publications, as well as the Communication Skills Center, the Educational Opportunities Program, and Upward Bound.

Waldo Hall is currently home to the Academic Success Center and provides a host of services, from study tables to supplemental instruction and coaching, helping students overcome challenges and working with high achievers to help them reach the next level. Their mission is to support the university's learning environment and promote student success through graduation and beyond.

Name of Historic District (as listed on the NRHP): Oregon State University National Historic District Link to nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com page with the Historic District: [Web Link] NRHP Historic District Waymark (Optional): [Web Link] Address: 2250 SW Jefferson Way Oregon State University Corvallis, OR How did you determine the building to be a contributing structure?: Narrative found on the internet (Link provided below) Optional link to narrative or database: [Web Link]

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