Athens College, Founder's Hall, Beaty Street, Athens

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS ALA,42-ATH,1-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

This building possesses dignity and grandeur, and the portico is well proportioned. It is very unfortunate that the third story was added in in place of a pediment which the building originally possessed, and which addition was done in a way that was not in keeping with the general design of the building. It is recorded that the masonry of the building was laid by slave brick layers from the leading plantation owners around Athens,. The Ionic columns and pilasters, used both on the interior and exterior, are of very pure design, and can be seen drawn in detail on the Historic American Buildings Survey sheets. The interior window jambs are unique. They possess a subtle swell rarely found anywhere. The plan of the original building is direct and utilitarian.

It consists of chapel, study-hall, and eight lecture rooms and offices, with circulation pro- vided in a very unusual manner as the drawing shows. Source of Material: E. Walter Burkhardt, District Administrator, HABS. Alabama Polytechnic Institute, Auburn, Alabama. (Revised at HABS Headquarters Feb. 11, - (Qpjgiual UUeLL.Jjt-^j,eld. Qte oofc)- HASC ALA. HZ-ATH Page 2. 1 Project

Hall of Athens College

Athens, J&ahama HISTQBXCAL DATA: Built in Architect was General Hiram H. Higgins. Woodwork superintended by Ira E. Hobbs. Brickwork by James M Brundidge. Ownership: Athens College. Bev. E# H. Rivers, was the first president. Hamilton Childs ; During the Civil War period, "Madam as she was called, was the president of Athens College. "Madam Shilds throughout the entire War Between the states, during the almost constant occupa- tion of Athens by Federal Soldiers, was able to operate th school without the slightest moles- tation. $he property was never damaged, nor the privacy of the inmates intruded upon. A.

skirmish was fought between the Federals and the Gonfedera ates only a short distance from the college cam- pus, fhe students from the upper windows of the building could see the troops advancing and re- treating, and one dead man was left in what is known as the Fayetteville &oad, the northern boun- dary of the college property, showing the fatal character of the combat." (Shis seems to have been the first building of the college, and today is spoken of as the Main Building, or founders* Hall* Source of Material: History of Athens College ^y Mary Norman Moore, ^merican Printing Company, Birmingham, Ala., Eugene Knight of the measuring force.