Samford Hall at Auburn University

 

My newest drawing is of Samford Hall. In 1859, the original Samford Hall was constructed as a main building for the East Alabama College and referred to as “Old Main”. It was a four-story Italianate building and was erected at a cost of $75,000. School was suspended in 1862 due to the Civil War.

 Sherman’s assault on Atlanta meant reopening “Old Main,” and other facilities of the closed East Alabama Male College for care of Confederate wounded. The State of Texas helped pay for the services, and the place became known as the Texas Hospital. In July 1864, more than 400 Texans were treated there. Many Texas soldiers never made it home from east Alabama and are buried in Pine Hill Cemetery.

On June 24, 1887, Samford Hall burned.

Samford Hall in the 1890s

It was rebuilt in 1888 from plans by Bruce and Morgan, architects with James Smith as the contractor. A ceremony was held the first day of construction with Charles B. Glenn, at the age of eight, laying the first brick. Samford Hall was officially named for Governor William James Samford in May, 1929. Through the years, the interior of this building has been renovated many times to meet the changes of a growing college. Samford Hall originally had a bell that rang every hour for classes, and although the bell still remains in the tower, an electrically controlled clock marks the time now.

Prints can be purchased at http://tinyurl.com/ptftnbe