Hale Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Old Ohio Union
|
|
 |
|
| Location | 154 W. 12th Ave., Columbus, Ohio |
|---|---|
| Built | 1909-11 |
| Architect | George S. Mills |
| Architectural style | Jacobethan Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 79001838 |
| Added to NRHP | April 20, 1979 |
Hale Hall is a very old and important building at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. It was built over 100 years ago, between 1909 and 1911. In 1979, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as a special place in American history.
Hale Hall was once known as the Ohio Union. It was one of the very first student union buildings in the entire United States. In fact, it was the first one built at a state university! Only a few buildings on the Ohio State campus are on the National Register. These include Ohio Stadium, Hayes Hall, and Orton Hall.
Contents
History of Hale Hall
Hale Hall was designed by an architect named George S. Mills. Construction started in 1909 and finished in 1911. It was first built to be a place where students could gather and relax.
Changes Over Time
In 1951, a new student union building was finished. This meant the old Ohio Union building was no longer needed for that purpose. So, it was updated to hold different student services. These changes were completed by 1953.
Later, in 1969, the student health service moved out. By 1976, most of the other student services had also left the building. Even though some university leaders didn't want it to happen, the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
Frank W. Hale Jr. Black Cultural Center
From 1989 to 2020, the building was home to the Frank W. Hale Jr. Black Cultural Center. This center was a special place for Black students at the university. It was a safe space where they could gather and feel welcome.
Honoring Frank W. Hale Jr.
The center was named after Frank W. Hale Jr. He was a very important person at Ohio State. He worked hard to create opportunities for students of color. He also helped make sure these students had safe places on campus. Students themselves had worked to get this special center established.
Recent Changes
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the center lost its space in the building. Hale Hall was then changed to be used for classrooms. Today, Black student groups are working to bring the cultural center back to Hale Hall.
