Old Kenyon
From KCpedia
Old Kenyon was the first permanent structure to be built at Kenyon College and stands today as the oldest example of Collegiate Gothic architecture in the country. The building was begun in 1827 and opened to students in 1829. Old Kenyon currently serves as a residence hall for both male and female students, although the building has also been used as a meeting house and an academic hall. Middle Path ends at the steps of Old Kenyon, on the south end of campus.
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History
On June 9, 1827, Old Kenyon's cornerstone was laid by Bishop Philander Chase, who refers to the great emotion he felt when he "was permitted to be on the spot, and though unworthy...was honored with...the office of laying the Cornerstone at once of Kenyon College." In 1949, nine students were killed in a fire in Old Kenyon. The fire started at 4:00 a.m. on Sunday, February 27. Old Kenyon is the notorious center for many stories of Kenyon Ghosts, with rumors of apparitions appearing or residing within the building. There was another fire in Old Kenyon Saturday, April 23, 1983 that was contained in room 304. The room’s occupant, Jim Gibson, jumped out of the window and was injured, but eventually recovered. Two Safety and Security officers were also injured as they tried to rescue him and contain the fire. After an investigation, the cause of the fire was listed as accidental and probably caused by a cigarette.
In April of 1990, the Inter-Fraternity Council sponsored an Illumination of Old Kenyon during Parent's Weekend. The illumination of the building is a storied tradition which initially was performed on a yearly basis for graduation, but was discontinued in the late 1800's because of the danger of fire the ceremony presented to the school's insurance company.
Fraternity Association
In 1906, the College entered into an agreement with the members of the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity that guaranteed housing rights to fraternity members in exchange for a $6000 contribution to the renovation of Old Kenyon. By this contract, the East Wing of Old Kenyon was to be considered Division Housing. The rights were renewed by President Gordon Chalmers after the Old Kenyon Fire. In 1994, the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity and its alumni group, the East Wing Association, filed a lawsuit against the College, claiming that their rights to preferential housing had been violated.
Architecture and Renovations
Old Kenyon was designed by Bishop Chase, the Reverend Norman Nash and Charles Bulfinch in 1827. The building consisted of a basement level, three main stories, and a bell tower, with overall measurements of 187 feet by 50 feet. The walls of the original design were made of sandstone, with a thickness of four and one-half feet. In its early years, the building housed the entire college. The architectural style of Old Kenyon is early American Gothic with a central spire as its dominant feature. After Old Kenyon was destroyed in the 1949 fire, the building was renovated by architect Charles Schweinfurth and the exterior was restored to its original condition, with the addition of dormer windows to the rear side. The interior was remodeled to provide housing for 158 students, 46 more than before. Final renovations were completed in May, 1950, with costs estimated between $700,000 and $800,000.
Today
Today, Kenyon's oldest building remains as arguably the most symbolic and recognizable part of the campus.
Resources in the Kenyon College Archives
- Old Kenyon -- collected materials (oversize)
- The Kenyon Collegian, 1983
