Old Main is a red-roofed Victorian Gothic building on the campus of Texas State University. Situated at one end of the quad, it was Texas State's first building, built in 1903, and remained the only building on campus until 1908. Old Main was added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1983.[2] It currently houses the offices for the School of Journalism and Mass Communication as well as the College of Fine Arts.[3]
Edward Northcraft designed the building for Southwest Texas State Normal College (now Texas State University) in 1902.[4] The building was dubbed "Main" as it was the only building on the campus when it was opened for classes in the Fall of 1903.[5] The original design included an auditorium and chapel on the second floor with an ornate cathedral ceiling, stage and balcony.[3] When construction began, multiple loads of concrete were poured for the foundation which disappeared into the ground. A cave under the site of the building was discovered and had to be plugged before the foundation could really be set.[6]
Contractors for the Old Main Building were Francis Fischer & R.C. Lambie of Austin, Texas.
Once other buildings began opening on campus to hold classes, the building was used as the university's administration building.[5]
1972 - Presentedit
A view of Old Main, shot from the 7th floor of the Albert B. Alkek Library at Texas State University
In 1972, the interior of the building was renovated and the chapel ceiling was restored. Following completion of this work the building was rededicated and officially became "Old Main."[4] During this renovation, the auditorium on the second floor was partitioned into smaller rooms.[3]
In 1988, a renovation added a floor at the balcony level. This renovation maintained the ornate ceiling which was visible on the new third floor. The most recent renovations in 1993 and 1994 restored the original color and style of the building's roof.[3]
Today, Old Main at Texas State holds the College of Fine Arts and Communication along with the School of Journalism and Mass Communication.[3]
A $3.5 million restoration and repair on Old Main's roof was completed in January 2014 with most of the work being done in 2013. Scaffolding was removed on January 17, 2014. The project included replacement of the roof and minor structural repairs to roof substrate and damaged/deteriorated wood framing members.[7]
^"Main Building, Southwest Texas Normal School". National Register of Historic Places. Retrieved June 5, 2009.[dead link]
^ abcde"Old Main: History and Traditions". Texas State University-. Retrieved June 5, 2009.
^ ab"Southwestern Historical Quarterly" (PDF). The Texas State Historical Association. April 1974. Retrieved June 5, 2009.
^ ab. Texas State University. Archived from the original on March 28, 2009. Retrieved June 5, 2009.
^"Fifty Years of Teacher Education: A Brief History of Southwest Texas State Teachers College, San Marcos, Texas, 1901–1951" (PDF). Journalism and Mass Communication, School of. Retrieved June 19, 2012.
^. Archived from the original on 2014-05-02. Retrieved 2014-05-01.
External linksedit
Media related to Old Main at Wikimedia Commons
December 18, 2023
main, texas, state, university, main, roofed, victorian, gothic, building, campus, texas, state, university, situated, quad, texas, state, first, building, built, 1903, remained, only, building, campus, until, 1908, main, added, national, register, historic, p. Old Main is a red roofed Victorian Gothic building on the campus of Texas State University Situated at one end of the quad it was Texas State s first building built in 1903 and remained the only building on campus until 1908 Old Main was added to the National Register of Historic Places NRHP in 1983 2 It currently houses the offices for the School of Journalism and Mass Communication as well as the College of Fine Arts 3 Main Building Southwest Texas Normal SchoolU S National Register of Historic PlacesTexas State Antiquities LandmarkRecorded Texas Historic LandmarkOld Main in 2003Main Building Southwest Texas Normal SchoolShow map of TexasMain Building Southwest Texas Normal SchoolShow map of the United StatesLocationOld Main St Texas State University campus San Marcos TexasCoordinates29 53 21 N 97 56 19 W 29 88917 N 97 93861 W 29 88917 97 93861 Main Building Southwest Texas Normal School Arealess than one acreBuilt1902 1902 Built byFrancis Fisher amp R C LambieArchitectEdward NorthcraftArchitectural styleGothicMPSSan Marcos MRANRHP reference No 83004505 1 TSAL No 8200000348RTHL No 10307Significant datesAdded to NRHPAugust 26 1983Designated TSALSeptember 3 1982Designated RTHL1963 Contents 1 Design and construction 2 1972 Present 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksDesign and construction editEdward Northcraft designed the building for Southwest Texas State Normal College now Texas State University in 1902 4 The building was dubbed Main as it was the only building on the campus when it was opened for classes in the Fall of 1903 5 The original design included an auditorium and chapel on the second floor with an ornate cathedral ceiling stage and balcony 3 When construction began multiple loads of concrete were poured for the foundation which disappeared into the ground A cave under the site of the building was discovered and had to be plugged before the foundation could really be set 6 Contractors for the Old Main Building were Francis Fischer amp R C Lambie of Austin Texas Once other buildings began opening on campus to hold classes the building was used as the university s administration building 5 1972 Present edit nbsp A view of Old Main shot from the 7th floor of the Albert B Alkek Library at Texas State UniversityIn 1972 the interior of the building was renovated and the chapel ceiling was restored Following completion of this work the building was rededicated and officially became Old Main 4 During this renovation the auditorium on the second floor was partitioned into smaller rooms 3 In 1988 a renovation added a floor at the balcony level This renovation maintained the ornate ceiling which was visible on the new third floor The most recent renovations in 1993 and 1994 restored the original color and style of the building s roof 3 Today Old Main at Texas State holds the College of Fine Arts and Communication along with the School of Journalism and Mass Communication 3 A 3 5 million restoration and repair on Old Main s roof was completed in January 2014 with most of the work being done in 2013 Scaffolding was removed on January 17 2014 The project included replacement of the roof and minor structural repairs to roof substrate and damaged deteriorated wood framing members 7 See also edit nbsp National Register of Historic Places portal nbsp Texas portalNational Register of Historic Places listings in Hays County Texas Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Hays County List of Old Main buildingsReferences edit National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service July 9 2010 Main Building Southwest Texas Normal School National Register of Historic Places Retrieved June 5 2009 dead link a b c d e Old Main History and Traditions Texas State University Retrieved June 5 2009 a b Southwestern Historical Quarterly PDF The Texas State Historical Association April 1974 Retrieved June 5 2009 a b Old Main Pride and Traditions Texas State University Archived from the original on March 28 2009 Retrieved June 5 2009 Fifty Years of Teacher Education A Brief History of Southwest Texas State Teachers College San Marcos Texas 1901 1951 PDF Journalism and Mass Communication School of Retrieved June 19 2012 Old Main Roof Repair Planning Space Management amp Real Estate Texas State University Archived from the original on 2014 05 02 Retrieved 2014 05 01 External links edit nbsp Media related to Old Main at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Old Main Texas State University amp oldid 1105686810, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
