Citation: Rust, Nancy. "Cabell House -- Home Ec Building Dates Back to Days of Potter College," College Heights Herald, March 20, 1963. The College Heights Herald is a student publication and copies are available to researchers in University Archives record group 37.

The Home Economics building now standing on Western's campus in its authentic gray stone, colonial style, has a unique history within itself.

As one ventures back to the time of Old Potter College, which closed in 1909, he finds the history of this building beginning to take shape. The Cabell house, home of the Rev. B.F. Cabell, who was president of Potter College, once stood on the present site of the library [Gordon Wilson Hall]. When Potter College became part of Western Normal School, the Cabell house was used for classrooms. The first floor was used as the Music department, which was headed by Prof. Franz J. Strahm of Germany. The Home Economics department, which occupied the second floor, was headed by Miss Iva Scott, for whom the Iva Scott club was named.

In 1926, the Cabell house was taken down stone by stone to make room for the new library building. The materials from the Cabell house were used in constructing the present Home Economics building. The reconstruction of this building was done by the Industrial Arts department and was redesigned by Capt. Brinton B. Davis and Miss Charlotta Day.

This building stands enhanced by its gray stone exterior, columns, and cornices. The almost perfectly square building has many windows on each side. The staff offices, reception rooms, and a clothing laboratory are on the main floor. On the second floor is a large foods laboratory and a foods laboratory arranged on the unit -- kitchen plan. A dining room, kitchen, and pantry form another section for foods preparation and service. The basement floor consists of a large applied arts laboratory, a lecture room, a storage room, and a lounge.

This mordern and well-equipped department offers many opportunities and the training necessary for those students in the field of home economics.

See also Cabell Hall Building History for additional information and bibliography.