Preview
Creation Date
2-26-1910
Description
The cornerstone for the second Van Meter Hall was set on February 26, 1910. Inside were placed a school catalog, a list of students and alumni and an issue of The Elevator.
This photograph shows continued construction of Van Meter Hall.
Other Names - Administration Building
Date Built - 1901, 1911
Dedication - May 5, 1911 - auditorium only
Cost of Construction - $147,000
Architect - Brinton B. Davis
Contractor - J. Bornstein, Louisville
Namesake:The existing Van Meter Hall was named after Vanmeter Hall which was part of the Southern Normal School & Business College in order to show the continuity of the Southern Normal School in the newly established Western Kentucky State Normal School. The original building was named for Capt. Charles Joseph Vanmeter.
The current Van Meter Hall is the second so named in WKU's history. It was dedicated on Friday, May 5, 1911, The building as first built had an auditorium with a seating capacity of 2,000 wherein WKU students attended chapel daily. Van Meter also contained classrooms, a library and administration offices.
Originally the name Van Meter Hall applied only to the auditorium. The building itself was referred to as Administration Building until after the construction of Wetherby Administration Building.
On September 21, 1968, the WKU Board of Regents approved a recommendation that "the old Administration Building now undergoing modernization, be named Van Meter Hall in honor of Captain C.J. Van Meter who contributed $5,000 to Western at the beginning of Western's life as a public institution of higher education. The auditorium in this building was named Van Meter Auditorium. Now that the structure will be used no longer as an administration building, it seems appropriate that the building as well as the auditorium be named for Captain Van Meter.
Additions - WKU Van Meter Hall
- 1954 - $25,000 new seats, lights and curtains for auditorium
- 1957 - addition of room for business office
- 1967 - auditorium stage made larger, air conditioning in offices
Keywords
Western Kentucky University