French Hall

Date

1868-1927

Location

Tappan Square, near Professor Street (demolished)

Architects/Collaborators

Builder unknown

Style

Italianate

History

The construction of French Hall was begun in 1867 and completed in 1868, at the same time and in the same style as Society Hall. It was a two-story brick building, located on the west side of Tappan Square, near the south end, named in honor of Charles French, of Cleveland, Ohio, who gave $5,000 toward the construction of the building. French Hall originally contained three recitation rooms on the first floor; on the second there were rooms for the department of Drawing and Painting, and for the department of Natural Philosophy. The department of Drawing and Painting remained in this building until 1885, when it was possible to give it additional space in Society Hall, owing to the removal from Society Hall of the College and U.L.A. libraries. In 1887, when Peters Hall was completed, French Hall was used for recitation purposes for the College of Arts and Sciences. It was torn down in 1927 in accordance with a contract with the Trustees of the Hall Estate to clear Tappan Square of all buildings.

Source

Oberlin College Archives, Office of the Secretary Records.