Lausanne Hall

Willamette University's president Thomas Van Scoy purchased the building in 1880 to serve as the school's Women's College.[1][2] The building purchased was a house that had belonged to the school's first teacher, Chloe Clark Willson.[3][4] The building was modified and moved from the corner of Capital and Court streets to the north of campus to the western edge of the school from 1880 to 1881.[4][5] The modifications included adding a mansard roof and another floor to the top in addition to a new wing on the backside.[6] Once it was moved to campus a tower was added to the old home and another floor added to the bottom.[6]

Originally named as Young Women's Hall, it was renamed for the ship Lausanne that brought additional missionaries and workers to the Methodist Mission in 1839.[3][5] Many of these missionaries helped establish the Oregon Institute in 1842, the predecessor to Willamette.[7] By 1909 the old building was valued to be worth $5,000.[8] This old building became a fire hazard and was closed in 1915.[9] In 1919, it was demolished to make way for a modern structure.[2]

A new Lausanne Hall was authorized by the Board of Trustees at the university and construction began in November 1919,[2][10] with $40,000 raised to cover the costs of construction.[11] Initial estimates placed the cost at $80,000 for a three-story brick building that included a basement with a capacity of 125 residents.[12] A campaign by the university was launched in 1920 to raise $100,000 to be used for completing the new Lausanne Hall, the reconstruction of Waller Hall that burned in December 1919, and adding a central heating plant to the school.[13] By December 1919, excavation of the site was completed and the laying of the concrete foundation had begun.[10] The new residence was completed by November 1920 at a cost of $140,000,[14] and included a three-room infirmary on the first floor.[15]

Original hall in 1884

In 1921, the Lausanne Guild was formed by city residents to furnish and landscape the new building.[16] The organization changed their name to Town and Gown in 1925 and continues to promote connections between Salem and the school.[16] Informal dancing at the dorm was banned in 1922 the hall's board of directors after the all-female residents had been dancing with each other.[17] The concern was peer pressure would cause some girls to dance who otherwise would not dance.[17]

During World War II the dormitory was the home of the United States Navy's College Navy Training Program at Willamette.[18] The program was at Lausanne from July 1943 to November 1945.[18] The rear of the building used to overlook the school's football field, Sweetland Field, until Doney Hall was built in the 1950s.[19]

The structure was submitted to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.[20] Nominated by the student government, it was believed to be the oldest dormitory west of the Mississippi River,[20] but the hall was not added to the list.[21] During the summer break in 1985 the building was extensively remodeled at a cost of $900,000.[2] At the time of the remodel, the interior was still in its original state.[20] Work included new carpeting, painting, a new sprinkler and fire system, new windows, new wiring, and restoration of the central staircase among other work.[2] Prior to the remodel, about 50 residents protested in a march to the university president's office over complaints regarding the decision process.[2]

Back porch area

In September 2002, a fire on the third floor caused about $125,000 in damage to the building.[1] Caused by an unattended candle, the fire was contained to one room and was under control within 30 minutes.[1] In September 2003, the building was evacuated due to a suspicious package found at neighboring Doney Hall that turned out to be a false alarm.[22]

Lausanne was designed by architect Fred A. Legge, a Willamette alumnus, in the Late Gothic Revival style.[21] The eastern side of the hall are two floors of covered porches.[19] Lausanne has a concrete foundation and composite shingle roofing.[19] The exterior of the three-story tall structure is constructed of red brick and stone.[19] The hall is the oldest residence hall at Willamette.[20]

Housing up to 152 people, the hall includes a kitchen, a lounge, and common areas that have a piano and pool table.[23] The individual rooms for residents are large and many have tall ceilings.[24] Due to these amenities, the hall is one of the more requested dorms at the university.[24]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lausanne Hall.

• Historic photograph of prior building