Old East facts for kids
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Old East
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Old East
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 Location in North Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Location | University of North Carolina campus, Chapel Hill, North Carolina |
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| Built | 1793 |
| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Part of | Chapel Hill Historic District (ID71000604) |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000596 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | December 21, 1965 |
| Designated CP | December 16, 1971 |
Old East is a special building at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It's a place where students live, located on the north side of the campus. When it was built in 1793, Old East became the very first building for a public university in the United States.
Another old building, the Wren Building at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, was built earlier in 1695. However, William & Mary did not become a public university until 1906. This means Old East holds a unique place in American history!
History of Old East
In December 1792, a man named Colonel John Hogan signed a contract to make 150,000 bricks for Old East. He also generously gave 200 acres of land for the university campus. The first stone of Old East was officially placed on October 12, 1793. William Richardson Davie, who later became the governor of North Carolina, led this special ceremony.
At first, Old East had two floors and 16 rooms. The way it was designed fit the university leaders' idea for a campus layout. We don't know the exact cost of building Old East. But records from 1799 show that the university spent about $12,180 on several buildings, including Old East. After it was built, Old East was used for both classrooms and student housing. Today, it is only a place for students to live.
The main builder for Old East was James Patterson from Chatham County. By 1804, the building needed many repairs. It was updated with new doors, window frames, and a freshly painted roof. A third floor was added to the building in 1823.
In 1844, the university hired Alexander Jackson Davis, a famous architect. He made the building longer by one-third and created a new entrance on the north side. The new rooms were used by the Philanthropic Society and also served as a library. Davis also added large windows facing north and two brick porches on the east side. Thomas Day, a very skilled African-American cabinetmaker, designed and built the wooden parts inside these society rooms. The Philanthropic Society stayed in Old East until a new building, New East, was finished in 1860.
Celebrating Old East
In 1877, Zebulon Baird Vance, who was the Governor of North Carolina and a university leader, made October 12 a special day. He declared it "University Day" to celebrate Old East's construction. He said it should be a day for special events led by the teachers.
Over the years, many important people have given speeches on University Day. These include President John F. Kennedy in 1961 and President Bill Clinton in 1993. Students usually have the morning off from classes on University Day. Many go to the "Old East Birthday Bash." This party has included fun things like cake, dance shows, and singing groups.
Old East was named a National Historic Landmark on December 21, 1965. This means it's a very important historical place in the United States. Students who live in Old East are helped by two Resident Advisers. These RAs are known for wearing bright safety vests during emergencies to be easily seen.
The Old Well and Old East are the oldest buildings at UNC. Because of this, they have become important symbols of the university. You can find art collections about Old East and the Old Well at the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum in North Carolina. There are also collections at UNC-Chapel Hill's Wilson Library. Old East is part of the Chapel Hill Historic District, which is a protected historical area.
