Senior Hall 1920

Sign in front of hall building

Senior Hall was dedicated as the second Normal School women’s dormitory on 9 July 1920. While today there is a walkway, in the early days, D Street and automobile traffic passed in front of the building. It was used as a dormitory until 1971. While the building opened in 1920, work on the third floor wasn’t finished until 1925 due to financial issues.

Map showing the location of Senior Hall
Image of Gerald the Museum Mouse
Senior Hall building with road running in front of it

Senior Hall was originally a three-story brick, U-shaped building with an entrance at each end of the front of the building covered by cast-iron canopies, very similar to Monroe Hall. Within the U at the back of the hall, was a sheltered courtyard.

Senior Hall with road in front
Another early view of Senior Hall

During World War II, Red Cross bandage rolling rooms were located in Senior and Monroe Halls. College students established a bandage rolling, all-campus, organization in January 1943, under the direction of Miss Cecil Dryden. Student organizations and community clubs competed to roll the most bandages per quarter

In 1959, room and board at Senior Hall was $140.00 per quarter for a single, $132.00 per quarter for a double, and $125.00 per quarter for a triple room.

Building with trees and shrubs in the foreground
1959 view

The building was declared unfit for student housing because of outdated wiring and fire safety concerns in 1971 and converted to office space.

In 2006, Senior Hall underwent an extensive renovation, that filled in the U at the rear of the building with classrooms. That renovation added a new central front entrance but kept most of the other exterior features of the original hall. Much of the interior of the building was altered in the remodel and modernization of the building, though historical elements can be found throughout.

Snow covered trees and ground in front of building
Senior Hall, winter 2010

The renovation did restore much of the elegant second floor lounge with its maple floors, wood paneled entries, and wood arch. The original hearth with brick fireplace and wood mantle was restored. Below the mantle is a plaque inscribed “In memory of Mary Newton – 1964 – Afternoon Literary of Tilicum.”

Interior of lounge with couches, lamps, tables, and fireplace.
Common room with fireplace at left

Senior Hall | Spokane Historical

Unlike most of Eastern’s facilities, Senior Hall is not named after any particular person.

Eastern Washington University Senior Hall | Spokane Historical

During the early years, Eastern Washington University was a normal school, which was the term for a teacher’s college. Most students were women, and by 1919…..

Image of Gerald the Museum Mouse

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