Building 800–Austin Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Building 800–Austin Hall
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 Location in Alabama
Location in the United States
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| Location | Montgomery, Alabama |
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| Built | 1930-31 |
| Architect | Algernon Blair |
| Architectural style | Renaissance Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 87002178 |
| Added to NRHP | March 2, 1988 |
Building 800–Austin Hall is an important building located at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. It has a long history and played a big part in training pilots for the United States Air Force.
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History of Austin Hall
In 1930, President Herbert Hoover asked Congress for more money. He wanted $100,000 for the main school building at the Air Corps Tactical School. This school was located at Maxwell Field. President Hoover wanted to speed up public projects. This helped create jobs during a time when many people were unemployed.
In February 1930, Congressman J. Lister Hill helped pass a resolution. This resolution added 80 acres (about 32 hectares) to Maxwell Field. This was for the base to expand. The bill also included $100,000 for the new tactical school building. The total money available for the building was $136,000. The building ended up costing $132,034.14.
Building Austin Hall
George B. Ford and Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. planned the entire layout of Maxwell Field. Ford was a city planner who advised the Army on base construction. He made sure that similar buildings were grouped together. This plan created lots of open space. It also gave each group of buildings a unique look.
The plans for the school building were approved by Maj. Gen. James Fechet and Congressman Hill. The building was designed to be about 29,500 square feet (about 2,740 square meters). It was made of hollow tile and stucco, with a tile roof. The walls were finished with white stucco. The building was expected to be ready by July 1931.
On September 15, 1930, Congressman Hill helped start the project. Rain caused the outdoor ceremony to be moved indoors. Congressman Hill and other important people gathered at the Maxwell Field officer's club. Hill announced that the project would be finished in 300 days. It was expected to cost about $119,273. He also shared that a lot more money was planned for other buildings at the tactical school.
Algernon Blair was the architect for the project. A.C. Samford was the contractor. Some people worried that workers from outside the area would be hired. However, on April 4, 1931, Captain M. A. McFadden said that 90% of the workers were local. People in Montgomery wanted these jobs. The workers at Maxwell Field earned over $2,000 every day.
Austin Hall Opens Its Doors
By August 28, 1931, many officers and their families started arriving at Maxwell Field. They were getting ready for the school's grand opening. The school building, Building 800, was built in the Renaissance Revival style. This style borrowed ideas from old Italian palaces. The building had a sloped roof, corner decorations, and a classic entrance. These features made it look formal and elegant.
On September 4, 1931, Building 800 was officially named Austin Hall. It was named after First Lieutenant Charles B. Austin. Lieutenant Austin was an instructor at the Air Corps Tactical School when it was at Langley Field. He was born in Illinois in 1891 and graduated from DePauw University in 1913. He was a very good student.
Austin joined the Army as a flying cadet in 1917. He trained at the University of Illinois and later at Rich and Ellington Fields in Houston, Texas. He became an officer in 1918. Lieutenant Austin served in many places, including England, France Field, and the Panama Canal Zone. He was a respected instructor at the Air Corps Tactical School. He even received a special letter for his hard work. Lieutenant Austin passed away in 1928 after an illness. Major John F. Curry, the school's leader, believed Austin was a great example for everyone at the school.
Maxwell's Continued Growth
On July 16, 1933, Congressman Lister Hill helped get more money for Maxwell Field. He secured $1,650,075 for immediate spending. This was needed because more students were joining the Air Corps Tactical School. It also helped provide jobs for people in Montgomery.
In October 1933, plans for four new construction projects began. One of these was an addition to Austin Hall. The contract for this addition was given to the Algernon Blair Company of Montgomery. Construction started after the school year ended in June. Blair worked hard to make sure the project was finished by the fall.
On September 5, Austin Hall's addition was officially given to the Army Air Corps. The addition more than doubled the building's size. It grew to 60,640 square feet (about 5,630 square meters). The cost for this expansion was $107,627. With the additions, Austin Hall now had more classrooms. It also became the new headquarters for the Air Corps Tactical School. The new parts included offices, classrooms, assembly halls, and a library.
Austin Hall Today
By July 8, 1940, Austin Hall became the headquarters for the Southeast Air Corps Training Center. This center was in charge of training all pilots, navigators, and bombardiers in the southeastern United States. During World War II, the headquarters in Austin Hall controlled over 30 major military bases. It also oversaw 23 war training groups. The center's area of control stretched from Maine to Florida and from the Atlantic coast to the Mississippi River valley. By the end of World War II, more than 100,000 aviation cadets had been trained by this center.
Historical Importance
On April 2, 1988, Austin Hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of places important to American history. Austin Hall was recognized for its role in the Air Corps Tactical School's history. It was also noted for the important work of the Algernon Blair Company and Samford Brother's Inc. in its design and construction.
