Ambrose Hall (Davenport, Iowa)
Encyclopedia
Ambrose Hall, located in Davenport
, Iowa
, is the first building built on the campus of Saint Ambrose University
. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
. The school initially held classes in two classrooms in the school building at St. Margaret’s Cathedral. The desire, however, was for the school to have a campus and a building of its own.
Bishop Henry Cosgrove
initially chose the corner of Eighth and Ripley Streets as the new location for the school, as it would be convenient for the day students. However, others suggested Noel's Grove along Locust Street as a possible location. Cosgrove was familiar with the location as he had held parish picnics at the location when he was pastor of St. Margaret's. He was concerned that the location was too isolated and inaccessible, and Locust Street was not a descent roadway. In the end, convinced that the location was accessible by way of the Brady Street car line, Cosgrove bought Noel's Grove. The cost for purchasing the property and building the central section of the building amounted to $20,000. The Revs. Aloysius Schulte
, the college president, and James Davis
, the cathedral rector, toured the diocese to solicit funds for the project.
Victor Huot was chosen as the architect for a new building. Previously he had designed St. Joseph’s
and St. Mary’s
churches and Mercy Hospital. He also designed the building for the Immaculate Conception Academy in Davenport. Both Ambrose Hall and the academy building were designed in the Second Empire style, and they were designed so they could be built in stages over a period of time.
The cornerstone for the building was laid on July 5, 1885. The central section of Ambrose Hall, with the entrance tower and spire, was the first section built. It had space for 75 boarding students as well as office space and classrooms. The Congregation of the Humility of Mary were placed in charge of the dining room, cooking and housekeeping. Additions were added to the building in 1887, 1893, 1901, 1908 and 1912. The building was constructed of yellow stone and red brick with marble and stone trim. A mansard roof
, typical of the Second Empire style, rings the structure on all its additions. The building housed the entire school until 1927 when Davis Hall was built.
An exterior renovation of the building in the 1960s altered the mansard roofline of the central section of the building. The rest of the exterior has remained largely unchanged. The interior of the building has been renovated numerous times depending on the college's needs.
A chapel filled the third and fourth floors of the western most section of the building. It served the school until Christ the King Chapel was built in 1952. The room now serves as the board room. The Seminary Department was also housed in Ambrose Hall until it was relocated when Hayes Hall was built in 1967. There is a grotto
with a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary on the north side of Ambrose Hall. The altar
and ambo
at the grotto were made from the altars that were in the crypt chapels below Christ the King.
The LeClaire Gym is attached to the rear of Ambrose Hall and it included a swimming pool. It was built during the presidency of the Rev. William Hannon
(1915–1926), and was replaced by Lee Lohman Arena in the 1980s.
Today the building houses offices for admissions, financial aid, records and registration, the John R. Lewis Board Room, classrooms, faculty offices and the student union.
Davenport, Iowa
Davenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Davenport is the county seat of and largest city in Scott County. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and was named for his friend, George Davenport, a colonel during the Black Hawk...
, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, is the first building built on the campus of Saint Ambrose University
Saint Ambrose University
St. Ambrose University is a private, coeducational, liberal arts university affiliated with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport. It is located in a residential area of Davenport, Iowa.-History:...
. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
History
Saint Ambrose University was founded in 1882 by Bishop John McMullen, the first bishop of the Diocese of DavenportRoman Catholic Diocese of Davenport
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport is a diocese of the Catholic Church for the southeastern quarter of the state of Iowa. There are within the diocese...
. The school initially held classes in two classrooms in the school building at St. Margaret’s Cathedral. The desire, however, was for the school to have a campus and a building of its own.
Bishop Henry Cosgrove
Henry Cosgrove
Henry Cosgrove was a late 19th century and early 20th century bishop of the Catholic Church in the United States. He served as the second bishop of Diocese of Davenport, in the state of Iowa from 1884-1906....
initially chose the corner of Eighth and Ripley Streets as the new location for the school, as it would be convenient for the day students. However, others suggested Noel's Grove along Locust Street as a possible location. Cosgrove was familiar with the location as he had held parish picnics at the location when he was pastor of St. Margaret's. He was concerned that the location was too isolated and inaccessible, and Locust Street was not a descent roadway. In the end, convinced that the location was accessible by way of the Brady Street car line, Cosgrove bought Noel's Grove. The cost for purchasing the property and building the central section of the building amounted to $20,000. The Revs. Aloysius Schulte
Aloysius Schulte
Aloysius Joseph Schulte was the 1st president of St. Ambrose College in Davenport, Iowa from 1882 - 1891.-Biography:Schulte was born in Fort Madison, Iowa. He received his classical education from St. Francis Seminary in Milwaukee, and studied for the priesthood at St. John's University in...
, the college president, and James Davis
James J. Davis (Catholic bishop)
James J. Davis was a 20th-century bishop of the Catholic Church in the United States. He served as the third bishop of the Diocese of Davenport in the state of Iowa from 1906 to 1926.-Early life and ministry:...
, the cathedral rector, toured the diocese to solicit funds for the project.
Victor Huot was chosen as the architect for a new building. Previously he had designed St. Joseph’s
St. Joseph's Catholic Church (Davenport, Iowa)
Saint Joseph Catholic Church is a former parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport. The church is located in Davenport, Iowa, United States, at the corner of Marquette and W. 6th Streets. It is listed on the Davenport Register of Historic Properties and on the National Register of...
and St. Mary’s
St. Mary's Catholic Church (Davenport, Iowa)
Saint Mary's Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of Davenport. The church is located in Davenport, Iowa, United States, at the corner of Fillmore and W. 6th Streets. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church Complex...
churches and Mercy Hospital. He also designed the building for the Immaculate Conception Academy in Davenport. Both Ambrose Hall and the academy building were designed in the Second Empire style, and they were designed so they could be built in stages over a period of time.
The cornerstone for the building was laid on July 5, 1885. The central section of Ambrose Hall, with the entrance tower and spire, was the first section built. It had space for 75 boarding students as well as office space and classrooms. The Congregation of the Humility of Mary were placed in charge of the dining room, cooking and housekeeping. Additions were added to the building in 1887, 1893, 1901, 1908 and 1912. The building was constructed of yellow stone and red brick with marble and stone trim. A mansard roof
Mansard roof
A mansard or mansard roof is a four-sided gambrel-style hip roof characterized by two slopes on each of its sides with the lower slope at a steeper angle than the upper that is punctured by dormer windows. The roof creates an additional floor of habitable space, such as a garret...
, typical of the Second Empire style, rings the structure on all its additions. The building housed the entire school until 1927 when Davis Hall was built.
An exterior renovation of the building in the 1960s altered the mansard roofline of the central section of the building. The rest of the exterior has remained largely unchanged. The interior of the building has been renovated numerous times depending on the college's needs.
A chapel filled the third and fourth floors of the western most section of the building. It served the school until Christ the King Chapel was built in 1952. The room now serves as the board room. The Seminary Department was also housed in Ambrose Hall until it was relocated when Hayes Hall was built in 1967. There is a grotto
Grotto
A grotto is any type of natural or artificial cave that is associated with modern, historic or prehistoric use by humans. When it is not an artificial garden feature, a grotto is often a small cave near water and often flooded or liable to flood at high tide...
with a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary on the north side of Ambrose Hall. The altar
Altar
An altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices are made for religious purposes. Altars are usually found at shrines, and they can be located in temples, churches and other places of worship...
and ambo
Pulpit
Pulpit is a speakers' stand in a church. In many Christian churches, there are two speakers' stands at the front of the church. Typically, the one on the left is called the pulpit...
at the grotto were made from the altars that were in the crypt chapels below Christ the King.
The LeClaire Gym is attached to the rear of Ambrose Hall and it included a swimming pool. It was built during the presidency of the Rev. William Hannon
William Hannon
William Hannon was a Catholic priest from the United States who served as the 4th president of St. Ambrose College in Davenport, Iowa from 1915-1926....
(1915–1926), and was replaced by Lee Lohman Arena in the 1980s.
Today the building houses offices for admissions, financial aid, records and registration, the John R. Lewis Board Room, classrooms, faculty offices and the student union.