Buckman Hall (Gainesville, Florida) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Buckman Hall
|
|
Buckman Hall, University of Florida
|
|
 Location in Florida
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 132 Buckman Drive on the University of Florida campus, Gainesville, Florida |
|---|---|
| Built | 1905-06 |
| Architect | William Augustus Edwards of Edwards & Walters; |
| Architectural style | Collegiate Gothic |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000609 |
| Added to NRHP | 11 January 1974 |
Buckman Hall is an old and important building at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. It was designed by architect William A. Edwards and opened in 1906. Buckman Hall was one of the first two buildings on the university's Gainesville campus. The other was Thomas Hall.
At first, Buckman Hall was used for many things. Today, it is only used as a student dormitory, which is a building where students live. Buckman Hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 11, 1974. This means it is recognized as a special historic site in the United States.
Contents
History of Buckman Hall
How Buckman Hall Started
In June 1905, a new law called the Buckman Act was passed in Florida. This law changed how the state's universities worked. It also created a new University of Florida in Gainesville. Building started in late 1905. The goal was to open the university for students in 1906.
The first two buildings finished were Buckman Hall and Thomas Hall. Buckman Hall was named after Henry Holland Buckman, who helped create the new law. Thomas Hall was named after William Reuben Thomas, the mayor of Gainesville.
When the first students arrived in September 1906, Buckman Hall and Thomas Hall were the only buildings. They held everything the university needed. This included classrooms, student dorms, and offices for the school leaders. Buckman Hall even had the university's first cafeteria, gym, and a place for sick students. The first president of the university, Andrew Sledd, also lived there for a while.
Buckman Hall as a Dormitory
As the university grew, more buildings were built. These new buildings took over many of the jobs Buckman Hall used to do. Since the 1940s, Buckman Hall has been used only as a dormitory for students. This happened after the University of Florida started accepting both male and female students.
From 1974 to 2003, Buckman Hall was a special kind of dorm called a "student cooperative." This meant students paid less rent. In return, they helped with daily chores like cleaning and small repairs. Students also elected their own leaders. These leaders made decisions about dorm life, along with the regular staff. Over time, fewer students wanted to join this program. So, in 2003, Buckman Hall became a regular dorm again.
Air Conditioning in Buckman Hall
Buckman Hall and Thomas Hall were the first buildings at the University of Florida. They are also the last ones that do not have central air conditioning. For many years, students in Buckman Hall could not even use small portable air conditioners. This was because the building's electrical system was very old. Students often used a fan in an open window to keep their rooms cool.
In 2006 and 2007, Buckman Hall's electrical system was fully updated. This made it much better for modern electronics like computers. These updates also meant that students could finally use portable air conditioning units. This started in the fall of 2007.
