I've mentioned before how I enjoy working in Oberlin because I get to drive through the Oberlin College campus twice a day. It's quite beautiful and I never get tired of it. Sometimes I even stop after work and just walk around Tappan Square, just to enjoy the college environment.
I thought I was familiar with many of the campus buildings until I saw the article above from the Lorain Journal of August 6, 1956. It notes that the Oberlin College Student Union Committee had suggested housing the new student union in Wilder Hall. I understand that the building still has that function.
I thought for sure the building looked somewhat familiar, but I failed to identify it during a few commutes. It turned out that I was driving right by it twice a day – only I was seeing the back of it. Turns out that there is another nice grassy square surrounded by buildings that I wasn't even aware of – and Wilder Hall was one of them.
Wilder Hall (originally called the Men's Building and used as a dorm) was built in 1911. It has been the subject of postcards for more than a hundred years. Here's an ample sample (below); the dates are not confirmed, as they are gleaned from eBay listings and only a few postmarks.
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| 1915 |
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| 1920s |
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| 1944 |
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| 1950s |
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| 1960s |
And here's the 'now' view. Time to call in Paul Bunyan, I think. Why let trees hide a beautiful building?
Fortunately, there's a 1930 view that's a little bit easier to recreate.
The 'now' view doesn't quite match (I hadn't found the postcard yet) but at least you can see the beauty of the building.
The back of the building does, indeed, face Rt. 511 (West Lorain Street). The grassy area in front is called "Wilder Bowl" -- where students tend to gather on nice days. The other "original" buildings surrounding the bowl are Finney Chapel (corner of W. Lorain and Professor), Rice Hall (corner of W. College and Professor), and between them, the Cox Admin Building and Peters Hall which looks a bit like a stone castle. As an aside, I once had somebody tell me it's not a good sign when the administration is divided between buildings named Cox and Peters.
ReplyDeleteThe basement of Wilder holds the campus post office along with a small nightclub of sorts which really gets a-hoppin'. The first two floors hold the offices a wide variety of student-run organizations. The top is mostly empty. There's also an old-style gymnasium stuffed in there, somewhere. It's a pretty cool place.
When I was a twelve year old student there as part of the Special Opportunities Program (1968) the nightclub in the basement was called the Rathskeller.
DeleteAlan: There was (is?) an eatery in the basement called the Rathskeller, or "The Rat." The club is "The 'Sco." https://www.dionysusdisco.com/
Delete“Why let the trees hide a beautiful building?” Because trees are beautiful, too! Can’t we all just get along?
DeleteHi Blazer Man! I was wondering if anyone would comment on that and I thank you for doing just that! I do love trees (I had 16 of them on the property of the last house I owned) and I usually hate to see one cut down. But I also feel that when trees get too big (and old) and are susceptible to coming down in a storm, and in this case basically cover up a beautiful (in my opinion) building, then it might be time to have a plan for gradual replacement.
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