FIRST - College in Kansas
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iconions
N 38° 46.669 W 095° 11.080
15S E 310225 N 4294387
The Old Castle Hall is located at 513 5th St in Baldwin City - just north of Elm Street.
Waymark Code: WMW84M
Location: Kansas, United States
Date Posted: 07/22/2017
Views: 2
Baker University - The first college in Kansas. Founded in 1858, Baker University was founded while Kansas was still a territory and at the height of the "Bleeding Kansas" days.
The plaque reads:
Erected this building and opened its door for instruction November 22, 1858
Werner Renick Davis, President
The trustees realizing their financial inability to construct a building to meet their dreams of the future requirements of the college, erected this building here as a temporary educational center rather than on the campus which had been already designated.
The Class of 1891 erected this tablet on its fiftieth anniversary.
From the Nomination Form for registration to the National Register of Historic Places: (
visit link)
Old Castle Hall, a crudely quoined three-story rubble stone building, originally consisted of only two stories. The third story was added later then afterwards torn off because of poor mortar joints; it was then added for a second time and remains to date.
A simple rectangular plan is carried through to the straight gable roof. All window and door openings are heavy stone lintels and sills.
The second and third floor levels are clearly visible because of the beams which extend through the exterior wall surfaces, The old two story roof line is also clearly visible on the backside of the structure.
Although the interior has been renovated many times over the years, the existing plan and interior are considered to be very close to the original conditions.
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