Hilltopper Heritage

Building History - Cherry Hall, 1937+

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Date Built - 1937
Date Razed -
Cost of Construction - $609,000
Architects - Brinton Davis of Louisville

Namesake - Named for Dr. Henry Hardin Cherry (1864-1937), Western’s first president who served for more than 30 years until his death in 1937. Cherry, a Warren County native, was a graduate of Southern Normal School and founded Bowling Green Business College and Literary Institute with his brother, T.C. Cherry. He became president of Western in 1906 when the state acquired Southern and formed Western Kentucky State Normal School ["What’s in a name? At Western, Plenty," April 17, 1983]

History - The building was built in the place of Recitation Hall which was originally Potter College, an all ladies college in the late 1800’s. Cherry Hall was dedicated on Nov. 16, 1937 which was Dr. Cherry’s birthday. Cherry died August 1 before the dedication. The three story building has a “temple front and columns of the Ionic order” [Historic Architecture at Western Kentucky University]. It has two wings that extend at the back of the building. When it was first built, the building was used for all academic classes, chemistry and physics department laboratories, and the college bookstore, post office and various other offices.

Additions - 1957 - Chimes were installed in the tower at Cherry Hall. The 25 chimes “could be played manually in room 301 of Cherry Hall. Their tones were picked up by microphone and transferred to speakers in the towers. [Cherry Hall Chimes] They sounded on the half and quarter-hours. On the hour the Westminster chime sounds. See also The Carillon.

1960-61 - exits were remolded

1965 - lighting was re-done

1973-74 - new rear entrance and elevator were added

Researched and written by Jenna Hawkins, 2008.