Other Names - Underwood Family Home
Thomas Family Home
Music Hall
Girl's Dormitory
Men's Dormitory
Basketball Dormitory
Date Built - early 1900's
Date Razed - 1994
Cost of Construction -
Architects - Richard Underwood

Namesake - Edgar Allen Diddle was born at Gradyville, Kentucky March 12, 1895 to John A. and Mary Elizabeth Hughes Diddle. After his early education at Columbia, Kentucky, Diddle entered Centre College at Danville in 1915 where he excelled in football and basketball. He served in the Naval Aviation program during WWI, returning to Centre in 1918. He left again in 1920 to begin his coaching career at Monticello High School. In 1921 he coached at Greenville High School. On September 7, 1922, he joined the staff at Western as athletic director and coach of all sports. He relinquished his duties as head football coach in 1929 and of baseball in 1956. Diddle married Margaret Louise Monin December 27, 1923 and they had two children, Edgar Allen Diddle Jr. and Mary Jo Diddle Phillips. He died January 2, 1970.

History - Originally the building was home to Richard Underwood, who designed it. Western Kentucky University acquird the house in 1923.

“One of the most versatile buildings on the Hill, Diddle’s Dorm, which was originally a private home, was purchased by Western and became the home of the Music Department until the present Music building was constructed. Used as a girls’ dormitory it was known as the “Little Dorm” during WWII when the air cadets had preempted both girls’ dormitories. In 1944, the building became an athletics’ dormitory managed by Coach E.A. Diddle and rechristened “Diddle Dorm.” [Talisman, 1949] In the earlier days there were classrooms that were used for English, History, Education and Music. When it became “Diddle Dorm” in 1950, Coach Diddle and his wife lived in the front part of the building while most of his players lived in the back. Diddle lived in the house until his death in 1970. Mrs. Diddle lived there until 1978. In 1978, after renovations had been made, the front of the house became the team manager’s apartment. Players lived in the dorm until 1994. The building was razed in the summer of 1994 due to termites. “Diddle Park” was created on the site. Stones from the house were reused to make steps and benches.

Additions - None

Sources - Board of Regents Meeting 1978 April 29

College Heights Herald - 1940 January 19, p. 1
1943 October 8, p. 1
1961 November 8, p. 2
1978 September 21 p. 1
1979 November 1, p. 5

Creason, Joe. "Diddle Dorm," Louisville Courier-Journal Magazine, February 19, 1950.

Folklife Archives - FA160 Harbison, Robert. "The Strange Little Stone House: The History of the Underwood Home - 1529 State Street," Folk Studies 464, Fall 1992.

Park City Daily News - 1994 June 1, p. 1; June 28 letter to editor; July 20

Talisman - 1949

Researched and written by Jenna Hawkins, 2008