President's Home

Originally serving as the president's home, this perfect example of a Federal style building was completed in 1931 by Van Winkle, a contractor from Louisville. Outstanding architectural elements include limestone quoins, dormers, bracketed eaves, a rounded portico, a hipped roof, paneled chimneys, and lovely balustrades. The building was completed at a cost of 26, 050. It was renovated in 1938, and converted to its present use as an Alumni Center in 1960.

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Cherry Hall

Constructed in 1937 by the George H. Rommel construction company of Louisville, the Classic Revival building, with a temple front and columns of the Ionic order, occupies a key site at the summit of College Street. Named after Western Kentucky University's first president, Henry Hardin Cherry, this structure commands a vista of College Street through the College Hill Historic District and the Downtown Commercial Historic District to the Barren River. The building was made possible with funds from the Public Works Administration, a federal Depression-era agency created to foster new jobs and to erect large public buildings. Cherry died August 1, before the dedication of the building on November 16 (Cherry's birthday) in 1937. At the dedication, a $10,000 statue of Cherry by sculptor Lorado Taft was unveiled.

Cherry Hall was built at a cost of $560,000. Struct Construction Company of Louisville served as the contractor. A set of 25 cathedral chimes, costing $6,000, was placed in the cupola; these were replaced in 1959 and 1974. Two life-size bas-relief panels, dedicated to "The Sciences" and "The Arts," adorn the front of Cherry Hall. This structure has been renovated several times. The exits were remodeled in 1960-61, the lighting in 1965, and a new rear entrance and elevator were added in 1973-74. Currently, this building houses the English, History, and Philosophy and Religion academic departments, and it remains a focal point of the university community.

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Perry Snell Hall

This Italian Renaissance building, named for C. Perry Snell, a benefactor of Ogden College, was dedicated on november 19, 1924. The Raymond Construction Company of Bowling Green supervised construction at an original cost of $85,000. the building was acquired in 1928 when Ogden College merged with Western. The 418 seat auditorium has seats from the old downtown Princess Theater. Also in 1926, Snell presented to Western the Florentine statuary, "Four Seasons," now located in a small park at the rear of the building. Distinctive architectural features include brick and limestone detailing, Palladian windows, a front entrance with fanlight and sidelights, a hipped tile roof, and decorative tin ornaments above the exterior entrances. It was last renovated in 1959-60. Snell Hall is the only Italian Renaissance style public building in Bowling Green.

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Health Building

Eclectic in architectural style, the Health Building is faced with limestone. Of particular interest is the terra cotta frieze, the only instance of this type of material in the area. Originally built as a gymnasium, it was completed in 1930 by Moore Brothers Construction Company of Louisville at a cost of $250,000. It also housed a clinic and a large band practice room as well as ROTC offices. Upon renovation and conversion to a library in 1965, the structure was renamed in honor of Margie Helm, who served the university as a librarian for many years. A steel glass entrance was added during the 1960s. Presently, the building houses the government documents, law, reference, and periodical collections of the Helm-Cravens library complex, as well as several classrooms, administrative offices, and the Student Technology Center.

Western's swimming pool, also designed by Davis, was once attached to the north side of the building.

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Stadium

This Classic Revival colonnade once served as the entryway to an athletic stadium. It was built at an original cost of $50,000 and was completed in November 1927. The Stadium replaced a limestone quarry on the northeast side of campus. Lights were installed in 1946, and metal bleachers replaced wooden bleachers in 1963. Constructed of limestone by Raymond Construction Company of Bowling Green, this colonnade contributes significantly to the character of the campus. Although the athletic field has been replaced by the Ivan Wilson Fine Arts Center, the stadium seats continue to serve as an amphitheater.

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Heating Plant

A necessity, the brick Heating Plant was completed in 1927. the design includes a simple utilitarian towering masonry smokestack. Original construction was completed by Raymond Construction Company of Bowling Green. A spur line from the nearby L & N Railroad ran adjacent to the building, allowing easy access to coal cars. The building was renovated in 1938, and underwent a major remodeling in 1956. In 1963, it was expanded at a cost of $402,725. A brick and glass wing was added during the 1970s.

After the building's completion, the College Heights Herald reported: "No more will the student on cold rainy days enter the classroom and have icicles freezing on his coat or leave the room with an almost numb body."

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Van Meter Hall

Brinton B. Davis' first building erected on Western Kentucky University's campus is a Classic Revival brick and limestone structure. Dedicated on May 5, 1911, the original cost of construction was approximately $125,000. This building was named for Captain Charles J. Van Meter. In addition to developing the Green and Barren Rivers for commerce as a riverboat captain, Van Meter was elected Chancellor of the Western State Normal School and helped develop the Bowling Green Business University.

Jacob Bornstein, a stonesman from Louisville, was responsible for the stonework. The stone, known as white oolitic limestone came from local Bowling Green quarries, and was highly prized for its quality and color. Among the building's outstanding architectural features are its stately portico, graceful Ionic columns, classic ornamentation, and placement at the crest of College Hill. Renovations were conducted in 1968, 1969, and 1971. Originally an administration building and auditorium, it has become a performance hall for musical and theatrical events.

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West Hall

West Hall, of Georgian Revival design, was completed in 1928 by the Raymond Construction Company of Bowling Green. With a facade of white limestone, outstanding architectural features include a central Palladian window, ornamental cornice, pilasters with Ionic capitals, and wrought iron ornamental.'

The building was built at a cost of $160,000. Renovations took place in 1959, 1963, 1977. The name was changed to Whitestone Hall in 1961, and in 1969 was renamed in honor of Florence Schneider, who served the university for many years as secretary bookkeeper, registrar, and bursar. The latest renovation (1977) concentrated on the interior, with some visible external improvements. This was done under the supervision of local architect Joseph P. Wilk. The general contract work was done by Meco, Incorporated of Louisville, at a cost of $870,000. The building is now a co-educational residence hall, with some rooms available to University visitors.

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Manual Arts Building

This building was constructed by the Raymond Construction Company of Bowling Green in the fall of 1928, at an original cost of $57,000. It replaced a former industrial arts building that burned. The Ionic order pilasters are the most distinctive architectural feature of this Classic Revival limestone structure. The factory-type windows are a recent replacement. Additional renovations took place in 1960, 1961, 1964, 1965. It was closed in 1975 for remodeling when the windows were replaced. This building houses the Departments of Industrial and Engineering Technology.

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Gordon Wilson Hall

This Classic Revival building's cornerstone was laid in 1926. Faced with Bowling Green limestone, the facade has an Ionic order with graceful columns and large urns. Carved into the frieze are the names of a number of the greatest contributors to Western literature. Completed in 1927, the cost of construction was $2000,000. The Raymond Construction Company of Bowling Green served as the contractor.

Originally serving the university as a library, the building was vacated in September 1965 when Margie Helm Library was opened. Renovations were undertaken in 1967 and 1968, and a rear steel and glass stairway was added during the 1970s. Renamed in honor of Gordon Wilson, Sr., a well-known folklorist and professor of English at Western, the building currently houses the Department of Journalism on its third floor. The Department of Theater and Dance utilizes the first and second floors.

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Kentucky Building

Although this Georgian Revival structure was erected during 1931-1932, the building's interior was not completed until after 1938. As a result, while Brinton B. Davis designed the building, James M. Ingram was the architect responsible for finishing the interior. Construction on the building halted in 1934 when funds were depleted, but some sections were used for classroom space while Cherry Hall was being completed in the late 1930s. This building was completed with funds from the Public Works Administration.

This building was constructed to serve as a repository for Kentuckiana materials, an idea developed by Henry H. Cherry and other Western faculty members. Renovation and expansion took place in 1977 and 1978, and a new addition was dedicated on July 4, 1980. Currently, the Kentucky Museum, the Kentucky Library, and Manuscripts and Archives are housed in the building. It is also the site of many public functions throughout the year. A pedimented portico adorns the front of the building. The portico columns have distinctive Tower of the Winds capitals, and each column is cut from one shaft of limestone. Other distinctive architectural elements include limestone quoins, limestone and masonry lentils, and a distinctive fanlight transom and sidelights on the front and rear entrances.

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