Huynh Quang Huynh Kristin Stoner Assignment #4 English 150 March 19, 2012 Cyclones’ Nation Central Campus Iowa State’s central campus was one of three central campuses selected among 300 of the most ravishing sites in the nation, called a “medallion” site. These sites were called “medallion” because they represent the heart and soul, as well as the significant landscape architecture, of the surrounding area. The ISU central campus’s design uses trees and shrubbery to surround central buildings such as the Campanile, Beardshear Hall, and Curtiss Hall (Zanish-Belcher). This design frames a companionable environment where students can relax, study, and socialize. One of the most significant and historical buildings is Beardshear Hall. It has been viewed as the heart and soul of the Cyclones since 1862. “I do not know where in the world you would find a more industrious, painstaking and hardworking lot of people than the faculty and students of the Iowa State College.” President W.M. Beardshear mentions this in a report of an emergency meeting to the Board of Trustees on the 1
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engl150portfolio.files.wordpress.com€¦ · Web viewIn the early 1900s, ISU had to deal with a fever that spread among students, later discovered as histamine H2 receptor antagonist
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Huynh
Quang Huynh
Kristin Stoner
Assignment #4
English 150
March 19, 2012
Cyclones’ Nation Central Campus
Iowa State’s central campus was one of three central campuses selected among 300 of the most
ravishing sites in the nation, called a “medallion” site. These sites were called “medallion” because they
represent the heart and soul, as well as the significant landscape architecture, of the surrounding area. The
ISU central campus’s design uses trees and shrubbery to surround central buildings such as the
Campanile, Beardshear Hall, and Curtiss Hall (Zanish-Belcher). This design frames a companionable
environment where students can relax, study, and socialize. One of the most significant and historical
buildings is Beardshear Hall. It has been viewed as the heart and soul of the Cyclones since 1862.
“I do not know where in the world you would find a more industrious, painstaking and
hardworking lot of people than the faculty and students of the Iowa State College.” President W.M.
Beardshear mentions this in a report of an emergency meeting to the Board of Trustees on the morning of
December 11th, 1900 (Beardshear Item 7). In the early 1900s, ISU had to deal with a fever that spread
among students, later discovered as histamine H2 receptor antagonist
(Beardshear Item 6). H2 receptor is a fever that tends to activate acid
production (“Antihistamines”). More than half of students had gone home
because of the sickness. Later that year, another disaster struck. The
university had to deal with a fire that took out the north wing of the old Main
building (see fig. 1). It took two fire companies from both Ames and Boone
to tame the flames. It was remarkable how they could save some portions of the building (Beardshear
Item 7). The fire might have destroyed the building, but it couldn’t destroy the spirit of students and
faculty of Iowa State University. It also brought the citizens of Ames close to the students. The
Figure 1: Old Main Building, 1876 (Lesher)Figure 1: Old Main Building, 1876 (Lesher)
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surrounding neighborhood in Ames opened their homes, and provided students food during the crisis
(Beardshear Item 7). “The fire brought out the excellent provisions and plenteousness of our water
supply, the sterling qualities of as good a lot of students and faculty as you will find any where on earth”
(qtd. in Beardshear Item 7).
President Beardshear called an emergency meeting with the Board of Trustees three days after the
fire on December 11th, 1900. He recommended hiring an expert to examine the remaining part of the old
Main building to ensure the safety of students and faculty. It was an absolute necessity to provide a safe
environment for students to live and study in since the founders of the college established the institution
(Beardshear Item 7). It was also a place where students lived, ate, socialized, and studied. “It is a building
that grew up by piece meal through the necessities of the last thirty years and one around which gather a
number of the sacred memories of the college; a building to which the state and the youth who have
shared the advantages of this institution owe a vast deal of gratitude” (qtd. in Beardshear Item 7). The
building was also needed for numerous reasons. It contained many important classes, such as
Mathematics, English, and History that were requisite for many majors (Beardshear Item 7). The old
Main building was not only important to students, but to faculty as well. The faculty used it for many
important meetings, and it contained a lot of important information, such as students’ files.
In 1902, ISU students and faculty members faced two tragedies: the death of President
Beardshear, and a second fire that destroyed the remains of the old Main
building (“Iowa State University Time…”). Since then, the idea of a new
Main building had been in thoughts of many students and faculty. In
1906, the university had Proudfoot and Bird Architects begin the
construction of the new building. Due to safety concerns of students and
faculty members, fireproofing was a high priority (Lesher). Fireproof buff
Bedford stones were used to build the exterior, as well as massive scagliola
columns for the interior of the building (see fig. 2 & 3). These columns
looked so much like marble that they deceived many experts. The building was so fireproof that the only