| Center section of Old Main soon after its completion in 1886. Note the open tower. The man at the foot of the stairs to the left is probably President A.M. Andersen. The architectural style of the building is French Second Empire, which was popular at the time.
Central Structure 1886 ($7,000)
North Wing 1893 ($6,000)
South Wing 1904 $(12, 500)
Mansard Roof
|
Brick work on Old Main was
done by the father of Philip Sheridan "Sherry" Moore. Sherry Moore was
the father of Ruth Blanchard.
"His father was a brick mansion . . . who built . . .
Dana Old Main, the State Bank building
(now Huber Building), the present Ben Franklin building, Pilot Tribute,
F.O.E. building and others. WC History Book Page 128 (Blancharad Story) |
 |
|
Old
Main Chronology
|
| 1885 |
The
decision was made to build the first building at Trinity Seminary-Dana
College in Blair |
|
1886 |
The
building was dedicated in October 21, 1886 |
|
1893 |
North
addition was completed in 1893. |
|
1905 |
The
south wing was added in 1905. |
|
1908 |
City
water and electrical service were added to Old Main.. |
|
1916 |
Central
heating was added with the construction of a new boiler house to the west
of Old Main. |
|
1948 |
The
Library was moved from Old Main to larger quarters in the new administration
building known as Pioneer Memorial. |
|
1956 |
The
original chimneys of Old Main, dating back to the days of the coal stoves,
were removed and new roof instilled. |
|
1957 |
Start
of the first major renovation project in Old Main since construction was
undertaken. The exterior steps in front of Old Main were removed
and replaced with a ground level entrance. The Old Main Chapel,
which took up most of the space on the second and third floors of the South
Wing, was removed. |
|
1960 |
The
steep slope east of Old Main was lowered and reshaped and a patio was added
at the front entrance. |
|
1980 |
Old
Main was named to the National Registry of Historic Places. |
|
1984 |
The
start of three phases of renovation was begun in 1984. |
| 1988 |
Old
Main was completely destroyed by fire on Thursday Morning, August 25, 1998. |
|
|
|
