Henderson Hall (Canton, Missouri) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Henderson Hall
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 Location in Missouri
Location in the United States
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| Location | MO B, Canton, Missouri |
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| Built | 1853 |
| Architect | Legg & Holloway |
| NRHP reference No. | 78001666 |
| Added to NRHP | October 2, 1978 |
Henderson Hall is a very old and important building at Culver–Stockton College in Canton, Lewis County, Missouri. Some parts of the building date back to 1853. Back then, the college was called Christian University. It was the first college west of the Mississippi River where both boys and girls could study together!
The building is named after D. Pat Henderson, who helped start the college. Henderson Hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. This means it's a special place with a lot of history.
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What Henderson Hall Looks Like
Henderson Hall sits on top of a hill, about a mile from the Mississippi River. It's a big, three-story building made of red bricks. It has a grand front entrance with tall columns, like an old Greek temple.
The most famous part of the building is its large, round dome on top. You can see it from far away! The original dome was changed in 1960. Then, in 2003, a strong tornado hit the college and damaged the dome again. So, it was replaced one more time. Inside, the building has been changed a lot over the years, especially during a big update in 1967-68.
A Look Back: Henderson Hall's History
On March 23, 1903, the first main building on the college campus, called "Old Main," burned down. This building was even older than the American Civil War. The people of Canton knew how important the college was to their town. So, they quickly helped out!
They opened up local churches and other buildings so students could keep learning. In just ten days, the town raised $15,000 to help the college rebuild. The college also saved some stone and bricks from the old building. With this, plus the town's money, insurance money, and a loan, they started building the new Henderson Hall.
Building a New Future
Work on the new Henderson Hall began quickly on August 10, 1903. Workers even built through the cold Missouri winter to finish the main part of the building by the next spring. Henderson Hall was officially ready on May 15, 1904.
Even with all the help, the college still needed more money. So, in August 1904, a famous speaker named William Jennings Bryan came to Canton. He gave a speech to help raise more funds for the building.
Changes Over Time
When it first opened, Henderson Hall had gyms for both men and women. It also had a large meeting hall, a dining room, and offices. Over the years, the building changed a lot.
- In 1915, they added science labs and a library.
- More repairs and updates happened in 1937, 1948, 1960, and 1968. These changes made the inside look very different.
- As mentioned, a tornado in 2003 destroyed the dome. But it was replaced, and Henderson Hall is still a central part of the college today. It holds many administrative offices and some classrooms.
Images for kids
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Henderson Hall, before 1917 when Christian University became Culver–Stockton College. The original dome in this photo was replaced in 1960.
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D. Pat. Henderson, for whom the building is named.
