Langton Hall - Oregon State University National Historic District - Corvallis, OR
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member NW_history_buff
N 44° 33.864 W 123° 16.703
10T E 477893 N 4934600
Langton Hall resides along SW Jefferson Way. OSU has the distinction of being one of only two colleges in the United States to be registered as a National Historic District.
Waymark Code: WMQ225
Location: Oregon, United States
Date Posted: 12/03/2015
Published By:Groundspeak Charter Member BruceS
Views: 2

Located along SW Jefferson Way and south of the Memorial Union Building is Langton Hall, erected in 1915 and is listed as site #105 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:
Langton Hall is a two story, Italian Renaissance style building. It includes a large gymnasium, offices, practice rooms, and a swimming pool. Alterations: 1920: Pool and offices added; 1980's: replaced skylights and windows in the pool and gym; 1990's replaced roof; 2003: replaced roof Pool installation- 1920 Exterior painting- 1977-79 Re-roofing- 1979-80 Swimming pool drainage modifications- 1982 Attic Insulation- 1982 Mechanical room steam pipe modification- 1983 Diving Board Handrails- 1982-84 Re-roofing- 1986-87 Landscape: Langton Hall is surrounded by trees and shrubbery of typical “old OSU” fashion. Setting: The building is located near the center of campus, across the street from the Memorial Union. Alterations: 1920: Pool and offices added; 1980's: replaced skylights and windows in the pool and gym; 1990's replaced roof; 2003: replaced roof.

Background History
Langton Hall, originally called the Men’s Gymnasium, was completed in 1915 for use in men’s athletics and assemblies. Though completed in 1915, OSU lacked the funds necessary to equip the building appropriately. During the 1916-1917 school year, the newly appointed Director of Athletics, A.D. Browne, had this to say. “The gymnasium building provides ample space for all indoor activities, but much of the work is ineffectively carried on, on account of inadequate facilities. There is great need for gymnasium and wrestling mats, apparatus, lockers, and a drying room. The unfurnished rooms now used regularly for departmental work should be completed and furnished to meet the needs of the men. No system of physical education is complete without a swimming pool, and the students of O. A. C. are deserving of a pool that will be adequate for teaching swimming to all and conducting an extensive program of aquatic activities.” (Biennial Reports 1916-17, pg 83) In 1920 his wish was granted when the institution provided more than $85,000 for the completion of the gym, as well as the swimming pool Browne had requested. During the same year a bronze statue called “The Runner” was erected outside of the gymnasium. It was one of the first pieces of art to decorate the OSU campus. The Men’s Gymnasium was home to the Beaver’s basketball games and commencement ceremonies until the completion of Gill Coliseum in 1950. In 1974 the building was renamed Langton Hall after Clair V. Langton, head of health and physical education from 1928 to 1964. Today the building is home to intramural sports offices and the department of exercise and sports science. It also is used for physical education classes and is the wrestler training facility.

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:
2450 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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