Property Record
1050 BASCOM MALL
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | North Hall, University of Wisconsin |
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| Other Name: | North Hall, Building #88 |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 100645 |
| Location (Address): | 1050 BASCOM MALL |
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| County: | Dane |
| City: | Madison |
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| Year Built: | 1851 |
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| Additions: | 1904 1918 |
| Survey Date: | 1974 |
| Historic Use: | university or college building |
| Architectural Style: | Greek Revival |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Sandstone |
| Architect: | John F. Rague |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
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| National/State Register Listing Name: | North Hall, University of Wisconsin |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 10/15/1966 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 1/1/1989 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: |
| Additional Information: | A 'site file' exists for this property. It contains additional information such as correspondence, newspaper clippings, or historical information. It is a public record and may be viewed in person at the Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Historic Preservation-Public History. North Hall, constructed in 1851, was the campus’ first building. John Rague of Milwaukee created a simple Greek Revival composition, with pedimented entrances, an unadorned roofline entablature, and plain lintels above the windows. The walls are textured with smooth and rough sandstone blocks and beaded mortar joints. North Hall originally housed lecture rooms, a chapel, laboratories, a library, and dormitory rooms. Naturalist John Muir was its most famous student-resident, living here from 1861 to 1863; one of his quirky inventions is on display in the Wisconsin Historical Society Building. 1973: "The first building erected by the University of Wisconsin was North Hall, opened as North Dormitory for men on September 17, 1851. It was built of Madison sandstone at a cost of $19,000. The first three floors housed from 50 to 65 students; the fourth floor was divided into six public rooms for lectures, recitations and studt. The building was first heated by two hot-air furnaces. As an economy measure during the war (1865) stoves were placed in each room, and students wre required to provide their own fuel -- usually a tree from Bascom Woods. A mess was set up int he dormitory for those who wanted to get board at actual cost, about eighty cents a week. Sanitary conveniences were primitive: the boys had to haul their own water from a nearby well. In ensuing years, the building was converted to office and classroom use." North Hall is contributing to the Bascom Hill Historic District, NR listed 1974, NRIS #: 74000065 |
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| Bibliographic References: | Isthmus Architecture, "North Hall: Masonry Restoration Study," April 2004. Buildings of Wisconsin manuscript. Sandstone and Buffalo Robes: Madison's historic buildings, second edition, 1973. University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Wisconsin-Madison Tour Guide, 1988. "The Oldest Known Buildings in Madison" Prepared by Katherine H. Rankin, 1/11/2006. Perrin, Richard W. E., Historic Wisconsin Architecture, First Revised Edition (Milwaukee, 1976). A Celebration of Architecture: Wisconsin Society of Architects Tour of Significant Architecture, 1979. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |