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Oregon Historic Sites Database

LOCATION AND PROPERTY NAME
address:2250 SW Jefferson Way historic name:Waldo Hall
Corvallis, Benton County (97331) current/other names:Clara Humason Hall
assoc addresses:
block/lot/tax lot:
location descr: twnshp/rng/sect/qtr sect:11S 5W 34
PROPERTY CHARACTERISTICS
resource type:Building height (stories): total elig resources: total inelig resources:
elig evaluation: eligible/contributing NR Status: Listed in Historic District
prim constr date:1907 second date:1939 date indiv listed:
primary orig use: orig use comments:
second orig use:
primary style: Romanesque prim style comments:
secondary style: sec style comments:
primary siding: Standard Brick siding comments:
secondary siding:
plan type: School (General) architect:Burggraff, Charles H.
builder:
comments/notes:
GROUPINGS / ASSOCIATIONS
Survey/Grouping Included In: Type of Grouping Date Listed Date Compiled
   College Hill West Nomination Survey Survey & Inventory Project 2000
   Oregon State University Historic District Listed Historic District 06/25/2008 2007
Farmstead/Cluster Name:Oregon State University
SHPO INFORMATION FOR THIS PROPERTY
NR date listed: N/A
ILS survey date:
RLS survey date: 05/16/2007
106 Project(s): None
Special Assess Project(s): None
Federal Tax Project(s): None
ARCHITECTURAL / PROPERTY DESCRIPTION
(Includes expanded description of the building/property, setting, significant landscape features, outbuildings and alterations)
Waldo Hall if a four-story, Richardsonian Romanesque style building that measures 96’ x 240’ and encompasses 73,404 sq feet. The building has a shallow hipped roof with steep front gable, and is made of brick. Ornamental cream-colored pressed brick cover the exterior front and sides, and red brick is featured on the back, around windows, and as highlights on corners. The building’s main entrance is two stories with an arch of pioneer sandstone carved into a leaf pattern. “Waldo Hall,” “1907” imprinted in stone above the arch, which is flanked by two short granite columns. There are four-story towers flanking the entry, each with decorative panels under the tower caps bearing carvings with naturalistic forms. Alterations: Waldo Hall received its first renovations in 1939 when the college replaced the wiring, sewer main, copper gutter, pluming fixtures, and painted and decorated parlors. In 1959 it was renovated for Men's Dormitory and renovated in 1966 for office space. In 1991 an elevator was added, roofing downspouts were replaced, and windows were painted. Exterior added in 1998. Landscape: Waldo Hall is on OSU’s main campus and is bordered by Jefferson Way to the north, Snell Hall to the east, and Langton Hall to the west. Setting: Waldo Hall is located just east of the center of OSU’s main campus, in sector C. Alterations: 1939: replaced wiring, sewer main, copper gutter, pluming fixtures, painted and decorated parlors; 1959: renovated for Men's Dormitory; 1966: renovated for office space; 1990's added elevator, replaced roofing downspouts, painted windows; 1998 added exter
HISTORY
(Chronological, descriptive history of the property from its construction through at least the historic period - preferably to the present)
Waldo Hall was the first dormitory that was constructed for use by women. Previously, women were housed in boarding houses, or, from 1892-1907, Alpha Hall, which was built for men and later converted into a women’s dorm when men were relocated to Fairbanks Hall. The hall was named after Clara Humason Waldo, a proponent of higher education for women, who was appointed as regent of Oregon Agricultural College in 1905—the first women to hold the position. She was a regent until 1919. She was also the first women to address graduates at commencement at OAC in 1923. Waldo Hall originally had 115 double occupancy rooms, as well as kitchen and dining facilities, a reception room, laundry room, and apartments for female faculty members. Also, it is thought to be the first dormitory on campus to have indoor plumbing and toilets. It remained the largest female dormitory at OSU until it was converted for men’s use in 1959. Males had occupied the dormitory prior to this date, however. During both World Wars, Waldo Hall housed military men stationed on campus. During WWI the women moved into the fraternity houses, and the men there were required to live in the men’s dorm or barracks. Waldo’s third floor was temporarily converted into a student hospital, as the college health center was taken over and staffed by the military. Waldo Hall remained a men’s dormitory until it was renovated for office space in 1966. Since then it has provided offices for the Department of Anthropology, Health and Health Care Admin, OSU Publications, as well as the Communication Skills Center, the Educational Opportunities Program, and Upward Bound.
RESEARCH INFORMATION
Title Records Census Records Property Tax Records Local Histories
Sanborn Maps Biographical Sources SHPO Files Interviews
Obituaries Newspapers State Archives Historic Photographs
City Directories Building Permits State Library
Local Library: University Library:Oregon State University
Historical Society: Other Respository:
Bibliography:
Bear, McNeil, Schneider, Bloodworth, and Hawes. Feasibility Study For Waldo Hall. Corvallis: Oregon State University, 1963.* Carlson, Ted. “Mansion of Memories.” The Oregon Stater. 1957.* Glab, Christina, and Eric Wilson. “Waldo Hall: The Life and Times of an OSU Dormitory: Structure and Historical Insight.” 1989.* Oberst, Gail. “OSU installs elevator in Waldo Hall.” Albany Democrat-Herald. Feb. 28, 1991. Stinnett, Lynne. “Waldo Hall: Oregon State University.” 1980.* * Available in the OSU Archives Memorabilia Collection, Box 31 – Buildings – Waldo Hall