
A
tragic fire destroyed University Hall (a.k.a. "Old Main" in
1927)--the erstwhile classroom and teaching center of Blackburn--
and ground was broken for its current replacement, Hudson Hall the
following year. A valuable lesson was learned from the destructive
blaze--Hudson was constructed entirely of fireproof materials:
brick, steel, concrete and stone. Much of the stone foundation of
"Old Main" was salvaged and used in Hudson Hall's construction. At
the time, the erection of Hudson was the largest construction
project ever undertaken by Blackburn students. Hudson Hall was named
in honor of Dr. William Hudson, former President of Blackburn form
1913 to 1945. Commencing with $50,000 of insurance money and the
help of a mule named Jim, the workers slowly cleared away the heaps
of rubble and began fervently to rebuild. However, because of the
eventual substantial size of Hudson, an ongoing drive for funds was
necessary to complete the building. Several times work would start
and stop until the necessary money appeared to continue. With slow,
determined, and fastidious steps, this project took practically four
years to finish. The total cost of the edifice reached $85,000;
another $10,000 was required to furnish it.
|
| William E. Ferguson Computer Center | |
Located
on the ground floor of Hudson Hall, the William E. Ferguson Computer
Center houses laboratory areas for general use, computer-based
instruction and research, and offices for Computer Science faculty
and Technology Services staff. PCs in the General Lab are equipped
with Windows 2000 and Microsoft Office. PCs in the Programming and
Research labs have a variety of programming environments, including
JAVA, Scheme and Logo, plus other powerful tools, such as Berkley
Madonna, True Space, Corel Draw and Dream Weaver. Also located in
Hudson Hall is a Technology classroom with 20 student PCs that are
equipped with Microsoft Office. Other computer facilities on campus
include a Graphic Design laboratory in the new Visual Arts Center,
with eMac computers running the latest Adobe and Macromedia tools,
and a 30-station wireless laptop lab in the Rahme Education
laboratory. |
|
| Clegg Chapel | |
Given
as a memorial to Sherman K. Clegg by his parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Sherman D. Clegg, the chapel seats 300 persons in addition to the
choir. The pipe organ was given by Mrs. Clegg as a memorial to her
sister Mrs. Irene Bryan. An endowment fund of $100,000 for the
maintenance of the chapel and the chapel program was established
through the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Clegg and of their friends.
Nearby, is the keyboard to the set of “carillonic bells” donated by
the Louis D. Beaumont Foundation and the estate of Anne V. Sterling.
These were installed in Hudson Hall in 1956. In 1968-69, the chapel
was extensively remodeled with funds provided in a gift form the
First Presbyterian Church, Springfield, Illinois. Additional
remodelings were done in 1987 and 1992. The Chapel is located on the
second floor of Hudson Hall. |
| Blackburn Campus: | |
|
1. Butler Hall 2. Ludlum Hall 3. C.H.C. Anderson Student Center 4. Graham Hall 5. Challacombe (North) Hall 6. Demuzio Campus Center 7. Athletic Fields - Football/Soccer 8. Jewell Hall 9. Dawes/Woodward Athletic Center 10. Hudson Hall/ Clegg Chapel 11. Woodson Center for Business and Economics 12. Jones-Allison Hall |
13. Stoddard Hall 14. Renner Art Center 15. Rahme Learning Center 16. Lumpkin Library 17. Physical Plant 18. Olin/Alumni Science Buildings 19. Bothwell Conservatory of Music 20. Visual Arts Center 21. Baseball/Softball Fields 22. McKinley House 23. Mahan Science Building |