Kemper Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Kemper Hall
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Wisconsin
Location in the United States
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| Location | 6501 3rd Ave., Kenosha, Wisconsin |
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| Area | 7 acres (2.8 ha) |
| Built | 1861 |
| Architectural style | Gothic, Italianate |
| Part of | Third Avenue Historic District (ID88002022) |
| NRHP reference No. | 76000067 |
| Added to NRHP | June 7, 1976 |
Kemper Hall is a group of historic buildings in Kenosha, Wisconsin. It began as a large mansion built in the Italianate style. Later, more buildings were added in the Gothic Revival style. These buildings were once part of an Episcopal college for girls.
Today, Kemper Hall is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as an important historical site in the United States.
History of Kemper Hall
Kemper Hall was first known as Durkee Mansion. It was the home of Charles Durkee, an early settler in Kenosha. The mansion was built in 1861. At that time, Charles Durkee was finishing his time as a U.S. Senator. A U.S. Senator is a person elected to represent their state in the national government.
Four years later, Mr. Durkee gave the building to St. Matthew's Episcopal Church. The church wanted to turn the mansion into a boarding school for girls. A boarding school is where students live and study. The school was renamed Kemper Hall to honor Jackson Kemper. He was the first missionary bishop for the Episcopal Church in the United States.
The School Years
Kemper Hall served as a girls' boarding school for 105 years. In 1875, the church built a chapel north of the mansion. It was made of cream-colored brick in a simple Gothic Revival style. The first group of students graduated there a year later.
More buildings were added over time. A four-story dormitory was built in 1894 and made larger in 1901. A dormitory and a gym in the Gothic Revival style were also added in 1901. In 1905, a boiler room was built behind the main buildings.
In 1908, a cloister music house was built. This connected the mansion to the church. A cloister is a covered walkway, often found in religious buildings. Three years later, a convent was built to the north. A convent is a place where nuns live. This new building was linked to the chapel.
Students and Closing
The school was never very large. Only about 1,600 students graduated throughout its history. Kemper Hall accepted girls into its school no matter their religion, race, or background. One famous graduate was Bojan Hamlin Jennings. She was the first woman to earn a doctoral degree from Harvard University.
Kemper Hall announced it would close in late 1974. The last students attended in early 1975. The school held its final graduation ceremony in the spring of 1975.
Kemper Hall Today
On June 7, 1976, the buildings were added to the National Register of Historic Places. This honor was given by the National Park Service. After the school closed, a group of people worked to save the buildings. They raised money, bought the complex, and gave it to Kenosha County.
Today, Kenosha County runs the site as Kemper Center. It is now a community and recreational center. When the Third Avenue Historic District was created in 1988, Kemper Hall was included. It is considered an important part of that historic area.
