Henry Hardin Cherry Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Cherry Hall
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Front view of Cherry Hall, facing College Street.
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| Location | Bowling Green, Kentucky |
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| Built | 1937 |
| Architect | Brinton B. Davis, George H. Rommell Company |
| Architectural style | Classical |
| MPS | Warren County MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 79003496 |
| Added to NRHP | December 18, 1979 |
Henry Hardin Cherry Hall is an important building located on the campus of Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky. It was built with money from a special program called the New Deal and was finished in 1937. The building is named after Henry Hardin Cherry, who started the school that grew into the university we know today. Cherry Hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, which means it's recognized as a historically significant place.
History of Cherry Hall
The idea for building Henry Hardin Cherry Hall, often called Cherry Hall, came from an architect named Brinton B. Davis. He was known as "the hill builder" because he designed many buildings at what became Western Kentucky University. His plan was to use money from the Public Works Administration to improve the campus and add more classroom space.
Cherry Hall was completed in 1937 and quickly became a very important building for the university. It is located where College and 15th Streets meet. When it first opened, the building had space for fifty classrooms, sixteen laboratories, and sixty offices. It even had the campus bookstore and post office inside. The building has three main floors, plus a basement with extra offices and classrooms.
The hall was named after Dr. Cherry, who passed away not long after the building was finished.
How Cherry Hall is Used Today
As Western Kentucky University grew over the years, Cherry Hall's purpose changed a bit. The post office and bookstore moved to other buildings on campus. Also, when the Kelly Thompson Complex for Science was built, the science laboratories moved out of Cherry Hall. These former lab spaces were then turned into even more classrooms.
Today, Cherry Hall is home to several important departments. These include the Departments of English, History, Religion, Philosophy, and University Experience. It also serves as the main office for the WKU Forensics Team. This team is a very successful club that has won many national competitions.
In April 2006, the lower floors of Cherry Hall were damaged by a fire. The damage was repaired, and classes were able to start again in the building the very next semester.
Symbolism of Cherry Hall
Cherry Hall is a big part of what makes Western Kentucky University special. The tall belltower on top of the hall is even part of the school's current logo. Inside the belltower's cupola are 25 chimes. These chimes play every fifteen minutes to help students keep track of time for their classes. At the top of every hour, the chimes play a longer tune to signal the new hour.
