U. of I., Moscow, Idaho.
Date: 1908
Source Type: Postcard
Publisher, Printer, Photographer: R. R. Sherfey (#3275)
Postmark: July 20, 1908, Moscow, Idaho
Collection: Steven R. Shook
Remark: The Administration Building at the University of Idaho, in the center of this postcard image, replaced the original Administration Building that stood on this site between October 1899 and March 30, 1906; the original Administration Building was destroyed by fire. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Built at a total cost of $415,769, the building was constructed in four phases. The first phase of construction, which consisted of the entire portion of the building facing east, was completed in 1909 at a cost of $140,000 (paid for with a series of state bonds). The second phase, which cost $75,000 (state appropriation) and was completed in 1912, consisted of the north wing auditorium. The third phase, which cost $90,000 (state appropriation) and was completed in 1920, consisted of the south wing. The final phase, which cost $110,769 (funded by student fees) and was completed in 1936, consisted of an extension of the south wing to house the university library.
The Tudor Gothic structure was designed by Boise architect J. E. Tourtellotte. It is constructed with a concrete base, red brick, and buff colored Boise sandstone trim. Total floor area of the structure is 109,824 square feet.
The first production to take place in the auditorium was Priscilla, a comic opera.
Dr. Martin Fuller Angell, as the university's Head of the Department of Physics, spearheaded effort to get numerals placed on the tower in 1913. At the time the clock numerals were installed, however, no funding was available to install the clock works and hands. Leonard Halland, the Physics Department's shop head, produced and installed an impulse drive mechanism in 1922 that also included carved wooden hands. It was found that the clock was unreliable. Electricity to run the drive unit would often shut off, resulting in the incorrect time being displayed. Furthermore, the wooden hands would become heavy with moisture or frost and the drive unit was not powerful enough to move them it that condition. Finally, university electrician Ralph Kennedy installed ½ horsepower motor and reducer gears in the clock tower in 1927. The wooden hands were also replaced with metal hands.
This structure is still [2017] utilized as the administrative headquarters for the university.
The building to the upper right in the postcard image is the School of Mines. The School of Mines was also referred to as the Engineering Building and was located about one block east-southeast of the Administration Building. The building no longer exists and Niccolls Hall, also referred to as the Home Economics Building, now [2017] stands on the site.
Construction of the Gothic designed mines building was initiated in 1901 and was completed in 1902 at a total cost of $28,000, with funding for the construction provided by the state. The brick building consisted of a basement and three floors. The footprint of the building was 60-feet by 108-feet, and total floor area was 20,982 square feet.
The School of Mines structure was razed in 1951 due to safety and building code compliance issues.
Morrill Hall is the center building in the image to the lower right on this postcard. Construction on Morrill Hall began in 1906 and was completed in 1907. The building was funded through insurance money received by the university when the original Administration Building was destroyed by fire; total cost was $55,907. The four story stone and brick structure has a 65-foot by 125-foot footprint and an area of 28,246 square feet. Originally a three story building, a fourth story was added in 1930. Morrill Hall first served as the home for the College of Agriculture and the Agricultural Experiment Station. The structure was renamed as the Forestry Building in 1950. Currently [2017], the College of Graduate Studies, Philosophy Department, and Office of Sponsored Programs is housed in Morrill Hall.
The Metallurgical Building, located to the left Morrill Hall at the lower right of this postcard image, was constructed in 1906 at a cost of $16,000. The structure is wood fame in construction with veneer walls composed of red pressed brick. The three story building has a footprint of 84-feet by 96-feet. In 1949-1950, a major renovation of the building took place at a cost of $122,168 (state appropriation). The structure was completely remodeled and three floors were added to the center of the building. An elevator tower was added to the structure in 1998. After serving as a metallurgical research building for several decades, the building became the Mines Building in 1950. Around 1961, the building was renamed the Psychology Building, housing office, laboratory, and classroom space. In 2001, the building was renamed Art and Architecture. The building still [2017] stands.
Constructed as a dormitory for women, Ridenbaugh Hall still [2017] stands on the University of Idaho campus and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is the building at the lower left of this postcard image.
The three story structure was built in 1901 at a cost of $17,000 (state appropriation), and is constructed with a native basalt foundation and red brick. The building's footprint is 78-feet by 96-feet and consists of 15,712 square feet. Between 1902 and 1927 the building served as a women's dormitory. In 1927, use was changed to a men's dormitory. The building is currently used for music practice rooms.
The building is named in honor of Mary E. Ridenbaugh, who served as Vice President of the Board of Regents and was a regent from 1901 to 1907.
The Gymnasium building was constructed as the University of Idaho's second gymnasium and armory in 1904 at a cost of $26,000 through private funds, and today [2014] is referred to as Art and Architecture South. The building is currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The building was designed by Boise architect J. E. Tourtellotte, the same architect that designed the second, and current, Administration Building on campus. The structure is built of a granite foundation and red brick, measures 64-feet by 129-feet, and consists of two floors and a basement level.
The building became the Women's Gymnasium when Memorial Gymnasium was constructed in 1928. The structure was the remodeled in 1976 for use as studio and classroom space for the art and architecture program.
At one point in time, the cupola visible on the rooftop was removed, but was added back to the building during a major renovation of the structure during 2009.
Copyright 2017. Some rights reserved. The associated text may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of Steven R. Shook.