View source for Academy Hall (Edinboro University of Pennsylvania)

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2011}}{{Infobox NRHP
| name         = Academy Hall
| image        = Academy Hall, Edinboro University.jpg
| image_size   = 300
| location     = High and Normal Streets<br />[[Edinboro, Pennsylvania|Edinboro]], [[Pennsylvania]]
| coordinates  = {{coord|41|52|19.3|N|80|7|41.2|W|display=inline,title}}
| locmapin     = Pennsylvania#USA
| map_width    = 300
| architecture = [[Italianate architecture|Italianate]]
| architect    = Nathaniel C. Austin
| built        = {{Start date|1857}}
| added        = November 21, 2006
| refnum       = 06001055<ref name="focus">{{Cite web |url=http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov |title=NPS Focus |publisher=[[National Park Service]] |work=National Register of Historic Places |access-date=August 21, 2011}}</ref>
}}
'''Academy Hall''' is an academic building on the campus of [[Edinboro University of Pennsylvania]] in [[Edinboro, Pennsylvania|Edinboro]], [[Pennsylvania]]. Originally known as '''Austin Hall''' for its architect, the hall has since been called a variety of names that reflected its use at the time, including '''Literary Hall''', '''Commercial Hall''' and '''Music Hall'''. Built in 1857, Academy Hall is the oldest building at the university and the oldest [[normal school]] building in Pennsylvania.{{sfn|Obringer|2005|loc=§ 7, p. 1}}<ref name="eup"/> It was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 2006.{{sfn|Obringer|2005|loc=§ 8, p. 1}}
== Design ==
Academy Hall is a two-story, [[Italianate architecture|Italianate]]-style structure located at the intersection of High and Normal Streets at [[Edinboro University of Pennsylvania]], southeast of downtown [[Edinboro, Pennsylvania|Edinboro]]. The hall is {{Convert|40|x|50|ft|m|-1}} with {{Convert|10|x|24|ft|m|0}} wings containing [[stairwell]]s on the north and south sides.{{sfn|Obringer|2005|loc=§ 7, p. 1}} A [[cupola]] with a low, pyramidal roof and arched windows is perched atop the building. Beneath the [[bracket (architecture)|bracket]]s and [[dentil]] on the cupola is a "[[Greek key (art)|Greek key]] fretwork".{{sfn|Obringer|2005|loc=§ 7, p. 1}}
The exterior of Academy Hall has remained unaltered since its construction, other than a new basement and [[foundation (engineering)|foundation]] when it was moved in 1880, and the removal of chimneys in 1885.{{sfn|Obringer|2005|loc=§ 8, pp. 5&ndash;6}} During renovations in 2006 and 2007, parts of the first floor ceiling were removed and a [[mezzanine]] installed. The cupola also functions as a [[skylight (window)|skylight]].{{sfn|Erwin|2007|p=1B}}
== History ==
In 1855, the citizens of Edinboro elected to establish an [[academy]] in the community as the nearest [[secondary school]] was in [[Waterford, Pennsylvania|Waterford]], {{Convert|10|mi|km|-1}} away.{{sfn|Obringer|2005|loc=§ 8, p. 2}} The community applied for a [[charter]] in 1856 and succeeded in raising $3,000 for the purchasing of {{Convert|1|acre|ha|1}} and the construction of an academy building. The contract for the building was awarded to Nathaniel C. Austin, a local architect and carpenter. Austin Hall was completed in 1857 and was dedicated on December&nbsp;14, 1857, the day before classes began.<ref name="eup">{{Cite press release|title=Why the rededication of Edinboro University of Pennsylvania's Academy Hall is an important story |date=January 5, 2007 |publisher=[[Edinboro University of Pennsylvania]] |url=http://www.edinboro.edu/news/detail.dot?inode=157823 |access-date=August 20, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927154130/http://www.edinboro.edu/news/detail.dot?inode=157823 |archive-date=September 27, 2011 |df=mdy }}</ref>
During the construction, the [[Pennsylvania General Assembly]] passed the Normal School Act of 1857. The [[trustee]]s of Edinboro Academy immediately decided to pursue certification as a [[normal school]] under the act.{{sfn|Obringer|2005|loc=§ 8, pp. 3}} An additional {{Convert|9|acre|ha|0}} were purchased and three more buildings erected: an [[assembly hall]] and two [[dormitory|dormitories]]. The academy official became the Northwestern State Normal School on January&nbsp;23, 1861. It was the second such school in [[Pennsylvania]], the first being at [[Millersville University of Pennsylvania|Millersville]].{{sfn|Obringer|2005|loc=§ 8, p. 3}}
Academy Hall was moved approximately {{Convert|200|yard|m|-2}} northeast to its present location in 1880.{{sfn|Obringer|2005|loc=§ 7, p. 1}} It was renamed Literary Hall the same year when its second floor became used primarily by the school's [[literary society|literary societies]]. From 1912 to 1917, the hall was used by business courses and classes for "[[secretary|secretarial]] skills" and became called Commercial Hall.{{sfn|Obringer|2005|loc=§ 8, p. 5}} In 1917, the building was used by music students and became Music Hall. The State Normal School became a State Teachers College in 1927 and a State College in 1960. The college's [[Alumni]] Office took over Music Hall in 1965 and renamed it back to Academy Hall.{{sfn|Obringer|2005|loc=§ 8, p. 5}} In 1983, Pennsylvania created the [[Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education|State System of Higher Education]] with Edinboro State College becoming the Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.<ref name="eup"/>
Academy Hall was left vacant in 1996. It underwent a $2.4&nbsp;million restoration that was completed when it was rededicated on January&nbsp;18, 2007 as part of the 150th anniversary celebration of the founding of Edinboro University.{{sfn|Erwin|2007|p=2B}} The hall now houses the university's [[university and college admissions|admissions]] office.
== See also ==
{{Portal|National Register of Historic Places|Pennsylvania}}
* [[List of the oldest buildings in Pennsylvania]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings at colleges and universities in the United States]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Erie County, Pennsylvania]]
== References ==
{{Reflist|35em}}
== Sources ==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{Cite news |last=Erwin |first=Ericka |title=Where it all began: EUP restores, rededicates historic building |date=January 19, 2007 |newspaper=[[Erie Times-News]] |pages=1B&ndash;2B }}
* {{Cite web |last=Obringer |first=Dave |date=December 2005 |title=Academy Hall |work=National Register of Historic Places Registration Form |publisher=[[Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission]] |url={{NRHP-PA|H079932_01H.pdf}} |format=[[Portable Document Format|PDF]] |access-date=August 21, 2011 }}
{{Refend}}
{{National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania}}
[[Category:University and college buildings completed in 1857]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Erie County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Edinboro University of Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Italianate architecture in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Relocated buildings and structures in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:University and college academic buildings in the United States]]
[[Category:University and college buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Erie County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:1857 establishments in Pennsylvania]]