Chronology of UMW Buildings and Grounds

1911

Willard Hall

Completed in 1911, this first building on campus was named for the famous temperance leader and crusader for women's rights, Frances Willard. From the very first days of the school, Willard Hall housed students and many support services including dining rooms, the post office, gift shop, and infirmary. In the 1920s, students enjoyed the Little Red Lane Tea Room located in the basement of Willard Hall. Operated by the Alumnae Association from 1922 to 1928 to raise money for the construction of the Student-Alumnae Building, the tea room offered pies, candy, tarts, ice cream, sandwiches, coffee, and other beverages.

1911

Monroe Hall (originally named Russell Hall)

Completed in 1911, the first academic building on campus was multi-functional.  It housed classrooms and administrative offices; a swimming pool, dressing room, and gymnasium were located in the basement.  At its opening, it was originally referred to as the Administration Building, then it was temporarily named Russell Hall after the school's first president.  Later, it was officially named James Monroe Hall in honor of the Virginia-born fifth president of the United States who served in the Fredericksburg City Council and housed his Law Office downtown.

1911

Marye HOUSE (originally named Ridge Crest)

The College acquired the house originally referred to as Ridge Crest, renamed it Marye House to honor former landowners, and designated it for use as the home of the president.  Since then, the house also has served as the home of the Director of Residence Life, as a residence hall, and today as an administrative building. Its construction date is early 1900s.

1915

Virginia Hall

Named for the Commonwealth of Virginia, this residence hall was completed in three separate sections over a 20-year time period. The north end of Virginia Hall was first opened to students during the 1915-16 academic session. The final portion of the "H layout" was completed in 1935, and provided additional space for students and administrators. Mrs. Nina Bushnell, Dean of Women, lived and worked in Virginia Hall during her 39 years of service.

1923

Amphitheater

The dedication of the open-air theater was held May 11, 1923.  The amphitheater originally seated approximately 800 people, and was used for May Day programs, commencement exercises, musicals, and dramatic performances.

Betty Lewis Hall

The namesake of George Washington’s sister, Betty Lewis Hall temporarily housed students from 1923 to 1930 while additional housing was being built on campus.  It had been designed to be adapted to an apartment building after the college was finished using it, but in 1937 it was once again leased as a student dormitory until other housing facilities were built.  In 1972 the owners sold it in an auction.

1928

Ann Carter Lee hall

In 1922, students, alumnae, and faculty of the Normal School began a fundraising campaign to erect a "building of, for, and by the Alumnae Association."  The first unit of the building with swimming pool was dedicated February 18, 1928.

It was remodeled in 1946, and in 1953 was completed and named Ann Carter Lee Hall.  Mrs. Lee was the wife of Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee and mother of Robert E. Lee.  During this Centennial celebration year, Lee Hall is once again being renovated and doubled in size to better meet the needs of students and the UMW community.

1928

Chandler Hall

Dedicated in 1929, Chandler Hall originally served as the campus training school for students at the Fredericksburg Teachers College.  The three-story building housed classrooms, laboratories, storage rooms, offices, and other facilities for all grade levels.  The frontispiece that identifies Chandler to students today was added many years later.

1930

Fairfax House

Named for Anne Fairfax, this house has served several purposes.  Before its purchase for the college in 1930, it was home to President A. B. Chandler, Jr., and his family.  Since then, it has housed at different times a handful of students, the school’s physician, and it has been used as the college infirmary.

1931

Seacobeck Hall

The first section of Seacobeck Hall was built in 1931; additional wings were completed in 1951.  The building was named after the Seacobeck Indian village that once occupied the site.  Seacobeck was formally opened May 19, 1931, with a reception attended by several hundred guests including Dr. and Mrs. Combs, members of the State Board of Education, presidents of three other colleges, and members of the local faculty.

1935

Tri-Unit (Ball, Custis, Madison Halls)

Opened for students in 1935, this complex consisted of three separate sections:

Mary Ball Hall

The central building featured a large reception hall with a circular stairway, and was named for Mary Ball Washington, the mother of George Washington.

Mary Custis Hall

A smaller building connected to Ball Hall, this residence hall was named for the wife of Confederate General Robert E. Lee, Mary Anne Randolph Custis Lee.

Madison Hall

The connecting building was named for Dolly Payne Madison, the wife of U.S. President James Madison.

1937

Hamlet House Purchased

This house, originally the home of Professor W. N. Hamlet, was purchased by the college in 1937.  It has been used as student housing, as a psychological center for the college, and for the Fredericksburg community.

1939

Westmoreland Hall

In 1939, this residence hall was completed and named in honor of Westmoreland County, Virginia, the birthplace of well-known leaders including George Washington, James Monroe, and Robert E. Lee.

The space in the basement level of Westmoreland was used to store stage scenery and house costume racks. Whole sets were built on the premises, and then carried to George Washington Hall to be set up for dramatic productions.

1939

George Washington Hall

Named for the first president of the United States and son of Mary Ball Washington, George Washington Hall was completed in 1939 and officially opened January 1940.  It housed administrative offices, an auditorium (today known as Dodd Auditorium), classrooms, and a recreational room referred to as the "Hall of Mirrors."

1940-59

Cornell leased as residence hall

Originally an apartment complex, Cornell Hall, located on the corner of Cornell Street and Kenmore Avenue, was used by the college as a dormitory between 1940 and 1959. 

1941

Trinkle Hall (formerly E. Lee Trinkle Library)

Completed in 1941 and named in memory of former Virginia Governor and member of the State Board of Education E. Lee Trinkle, this new building featured space for a library and classrooms. After the library facilities were complete in Trinkle, the former library area in Virginia Hall was converted into residence rooms for students. When the Simpson Library opened in 1988, Trinkle became an academic building. It was renovated in 1991.

Brent House acquired

The World War I-era house was purchased by the college in 1944 and used as the president’s house until 1947.  Since then, it has served as a residence hall and French language house.  Currently, it serves as the University police station.

1946

Brompton purchased

The College acquired this historic home and 171 acres in 1946.  Named by its original owner for a town in England, construction of the house dates back to the 1740s.  It has withstood time and war, and is famous for the photograph of soldiers resting under its large oak tree when the house served as a Civil War hospital. Brompton has served as the home of Mary Washington presidents since 1948.

1946

Framar House acquired

The acquisition by the College of this house and 7.6 acres in 1946 served to extend the campus from Route 1 to William Street, and from Sunken Road to College Avenue.  It was named Framar to honor the former owners, Frank and Marion Reichel.  It served as the president's residence for two years.

1947

Trench Hill acquired (Now kalnen Inn)

The College acquired this 1920s home in 1947 and named it Trench Hill in recognition of the trenches dug by defending confederate soldiers during the 1862 Battle of Fredericksburg.  The building was first used as a residence hall for students, and was converted into offices for alumni and development in 1982.  The original Trench Hill house was renovated and, in 2004, was renamed Kalnen Inn as part of the Jepson Alumni Executive Center to honor the significant contributions of Elizabeth "Becky" Kalnen '37 and her sister, Margaret Rose Kalnen '33.

1949

Spotswood Lodge acquired

The college purchased Spotswood Lodge, on the corner of College Avenue and Brent Street, in 1949.  Originally used as a residence hall, it was designated as the Alumnae House in 1959, and also served as a Spanish House. It was later sold.

1950

Hugh Mercer Hall

In 1950, construction was completed on the new college infirmary, named after famous Fredericksburg physician Hugh Mercer.  Although it was used for a time as a residence hall, it is now back to its original use as home of the Health Center and Counseling and Psychological Services.

1952

Fine Arts Complex (DuPont, Melchers, Pollard)

The fine arts complex, consisting of duPont, Melchers, and Pollard halls, was completed in 1952.  Jessie Ball duPont Hall was named after the closest living relative of Mary Washington; Gari Melchers Hall was named after the artist who lived at Belmont; and Pollard Hall was named after former Governor of Virginia John Garland Pollard.

1954

Mason Hall
Randolph Hall

Mason Hall, named after the mother of George Mason, was completed in 1954 as a residence hall.  It is attached to its mirror-image building, Randolph Hall, also completed in 1954.  Randolph Hall was named in honor of Martha Jefferson Randolph, Thomas Jefferson’s daughter.

1959

Combs Hall

The academic building was completed in 1959 and named for President Morgan L. Combs, who served as president for 26 years from 1929 through 1955.

1959

Bushnell Hall

In 1959, Bushnell Hall was completed.  The residence hall was named after the former dean of women, Mrs. C.L. Bushnell.

1960

Marshall Hall

Mary Sable Marshall Hall was completed in 1960 and named for the wife of the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, John Marshall.

1961

Belmont acquired from state (off campus)

Built in 1761, custody of Belmont was transferred to Mary Washington College by the General Assembly of Virginia in 1960.  The home of artist Gari Melchers from 1916 to 1932, Belmont became a memorial and art center.

1965

Russell Hall

Completed as a residence hall in 1965, this building was named for the first president of the college, Edward Hutson Russell.

1967

Jefferson Hall

Completed in 1967, this residence hall featured the first elevators on campus, and was named for the third president of the United States.  Prior to the beginning of construction, the Fredericksburg city reservoir was removed and the ground was leveled.

1969

Goolrick Hall

The proposed C. O’Conor Goolrick Hall was named in 1960, just months before the death of the “father of Mary Washington College."  The four-level athletic complex was completed in 1969. 

1972

James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library acquired (off campus)

The site was originally purchased by James Monroe in 1786, and he practiced law from a wood frame building on the lot until 1790. President Monroe sold the land and the building in 1792, and it would not be formally associated with him again until 1927 when a brick building on the site was selected as a memorial to the fifth president of the United States. In 1964, the museum was given to the Commonwealth of Virginia. It was administered by the University of Virginia, and in 1972 oversight was passed to UMW when the two schools became independent of each other.

1985

Campus Walk

The Mary Washington College campus was unified in 1985 with the development of Campus Walk.  Vehicular traffic on the road through the center of campus was stopped, and the area was paved with brick.  This new Campus Walk promoted a more comfortable and pedestrian atmosphere and added to the overall scenic beauty and sense of community.

1987

Fountain (at Monroe/ Willard/Virginia complex)

Since 1987, the fountain in front of Monroe Hall has served as a meeting place and campus landmark.  The area surrounding the fountain was renamed Palmieri Plaza in 1998 after former Mary Washington professor of geography Dr. Richard Palmieri.

1987

Campus Center (named Prince B. Woodard campus Center 1991)

The Campus Center was completed in 1986 and named after former President Prince B. Woodard in 1991.  The location of many student activities on campus, the campus center houses the Eagle’s Nest, the Post Office, and Great Hall.

1988

South Hall

Built in 1988, South Hall was the only all-male residence hall on campus for nearly two decades. 

1988

Library (named Grellet Simpson Library 1991)

In 1988, a new library was built to house the collection of over 350,000 books owned by the University.  The library was named after former President Grellet Simpson in 1991.

1990

Edward Alvey Hall (Formerly North Hall)

Alvey Hall is named for Dean Emeritus Edward Alvey, Jr., who was Dean of the College and served as Professor of Education for 37 years. Dr. Alvey wrote The History of Mary Washington College 1908 – 1972 after encouragement from President Simpson. Dr. Alvey served as a representative for Phi Delta Kappa, held the position of director of teacher training, served as chair of the department of education, and directed the student teaching program.  (Note: Originally called North Hall, this building was named for Dr. Alvey in 1991.)

1992

Ridderhof Martin Gallery

Named in honor of local artist and illustrator Phyllis Ridderhof Martin in appreciation for her support of the arts at Mary Washington.

1993

New Hall (named Arrington Hall 2005)

New Hall, renamed Arrington Hall in 2005 after alumna Arabelle Laws Arrington, added rooms for 150 students when it was completed in 1993.

1995

Athletic Complex

Battleground Outdoor Complex plays host to lacrosse, soccer, tennis, field hockey, track and field, baseball, and softball, and is regarded as one of the finest facilities of its kind in Virginia. The V. Earl Dickinson baseball stadium was added in 1998 and the University Tennis Center was completed in 2005. The Battleground has hosted NCAA Division III Men's (1989, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2001) and Women's (1990, 1991, 1997, 1998, 2001) Soccer and Baseball (1992) Tournaments, and also, the 1992 NCAA Division III Women's Soccer, 1993 Field Hockey, 1997 Men's Soccer, and 2006 Men's Tennis National Championships.

1998

Jepson Science Center

The Jepson Science Center is named for alumna Alice Andrews Jepson and her husband Robert S. Jepson, Jr., in recognition of their support for the state-of-the-art science center. Jepson is twice the size of Combs Hall, where the science department was previously housed, and contains a greenhouse, a science literacy center, and computer lab stations.

1999

College of Graduate and Professional Studies (Formerly named James Monroe Center for Graduate & Professional Studies)

The first building opened on the Stafford Campus in 1999 to meet the needs of working adults in the region while retaining the small-campus feel of the Fredericksburg campus. The building boasts state-of-the art classrooms, a teleconferencing center, a library, and the Rappahannock Region Small Business Development Center.

2001

James Farmer Memorial installed

The James Farmer bust, located across from Trinkle Hall, celebrates the life of the late UMW Distinguished Professor of History and "Big Four" Civil Rights leader. Dr. Farmer dedicated his life to equality for all. He is most famous for founding the Congress on Racial Equality (CORE) and leading the Freedom Rides of the 1960s. He taught at UMW from 1983 to 1999, and in 1998 he received the Congressional Medal of Freedom, the highest honor the United States bestows upon civilians. Today, the James Farmer Multicultural Center, the James Farmer Scholars program, and the James Farmer Professorship in Human Rights bear his name at UMW.

2003

UMW Apartments opened as residence hall

In 2001, Mary Washington bought Marye’s Heights Apartments, converting the 10 buildings into a residence hall that combines on-campus and apartment-style living.  The Apartments at UMW opened in fall 2003 and currently house about 350 juniors and seniors.

2004

Fitness Center

The 19,000-square foot center serves more than 500 participants a day.  The upper level features a variety of cardiovascular equipment that faces a wall of windows offering a spectacular view of Campus Walk.  The equipment also faces a bank of six suspended televisions offering local cable television. The lower level offers free weights and fitness equipment stations, as well as the Wellness Resource Center, which offers a resource library for wellness information.

2004

Jepson Alumni Executive Center

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held during Reunion Weekend 2004 to dedicate the new multi-purpose building named in honor of Alice Andrews Jepson '64, who led the campaign, along with Elizabeth Smith Hughes '51 and Charlotte Major Minor '66, to secure private donations to build the $8 million facility. Located on Hanover Street across from Brompton, the world-class facility features an elegant ballroom, state-of-the-art meeting facilities, offices for alumni and development staff, a bricked courtyard, and fountain. Since its opening, numerous alumni and community members have hosted special events from weddings to corporate retreats here.

2005

university Tennis center

Opened in 2005, the University Tennis Center is a six-court, state-of-the-art tennis facility at the Battleground Athletic Complex.  The Tennis Center hosted the 2006 NCAA Division III National Championships and received the 2006 USTA Mid-Atlantic Section Facility of the Year Award.

2007

college of graduate and professional studies, North building

The North Building officially opened for the first day of classes on Monday, January 15, 2007. The $14.6 million, 42,612-square foot building roughly doubled the instructional space at the Stafford campus. It includes classrooms, computer labs, a networking lab, a curriculum development lab, faculty offices, and University Hall. The building’s design, materials, maintenance, and internal systems include energy-efficient characteristics and recycled or environmentally sensitive materials.

2007

Carmen Culpeper Chappell Centennial Campanile

The Carmen Culpeper Chappell Campanile chimed for the first time on Friday, May 11, and in the process rang in the "Centennial Era" of the University. The 88-foot tall tower stands within the traffic circle near George Washington Hall. The base includes a fountain dedicated to Chappell’s class, the Class of 1959. The campanile’s bronze bells were cast in Annecy-le-Vieux, France, at the world-famous bellfoundry of Paccard-Fonderie de Cloches.