Samford Hall
Encyclopedia
William J. Samford Hall is a structure on the campus of Auburn University
in Auburn
, Alabama
. It is an icon of Auburn University
and houses the school's administration. The building is named for William J. Samford
, the Governor of Alabama from 1900 to 1901.
were added to the taller tower.
Through the late 19th century, Samford Hall was the college's main classroom building and contained the library. When the school formed a basketball
team, the attic of Samford Hall was converted into a court. In May 1929, the building was officially named for William J. Samford
. In 1941, the tower's mechanical clock was converted to run on electricity, and in 1977, a carillon
was added. Samford Hall underwent major renovations in 1971, and the original clockworks were replaced in 1995. Today, Samford Hall houses the school's administration, accounting, planning, and public relations offices.
. These clockworks were replaced in 1995 by a clock and electronic carillon made by the Verdin Company of Cincinnati, Ohio
. A portion of the original clockworks and an original clockface are on display in the reception area of Samford Hall. The Samford Hall carillon plays the Westminster Chimes on the quarter-hour, and plays the Auburn University fight song, "War Eagle", a few seconds after 12:00 noon.
According to a University legend, students once led a cow up the tower stairs as a prank.
lighting ceremony. The decision to officially refer to the tree as a "Holiday Tree" (rather than a "Christmas Tree") resulted in controversy in 2005 when commentators on townhall.com
and World Net Daily criticized Auburn University's choice of names as an example of political correctness
gone amok. As a compromise, the ceremony was in subsequent years renamed the "Holiday Celebration featuring the Lighting of the Christmas Tree."
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
in Auburn
Auburn, Alabama
Auburn is a city in Lee County, Alabama, United States. It is the largest city in eastern Alabama with a 2010 population of 53,380. It is a principal city of the Auburn-Opelika Metropolitan Area...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. It is an icon of Auburn University
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
and houses the school's administration. The building is named for William J. Samford
William J. Samford
William James Samford was an American Democratic politician who was the 31st Governor of Alabama from 1900 to 1901....
, the Governor of Alabama from 1900 to 1901.
History
When Auburn University (as East Alabama Male College) opened in 1859, classes were held in a structure named "Old Main" on the current site of Samford Hall. On June 24, 1887, Old Main was destroyed by fire. The following year, Samford Hall (then simply known as the "Main Building") was constructed, using, in part, bricks salvaged from the ruins of Old Main. The design of Samford Hall roughly mirrored that of Old Main, except that Samford Hall had two main entrances instead of Old Main's one, and on Samford one of the two flanking towers was considerably taller and was constructed to contain a clock. In 1889, a clockworks and bellBell (instrument)
A bell is a simple sound-making device. The bell is a percussion instrument and an idiophone. Its form is usually a hollow, cup-shaped object, which resonates upon being struck...
were added to the taller tower.
Through the late 19th century, Samford Hall was the college's main classroom building and contained the library. When the school formed a basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team, the attic of Samford Hall was converted into a court. In May 1929, the building was officially named for William J. Samford
William J. Samford
William James Samford was an American Democratic politician who was the 31st Governor of Alabama from 1900 to 1901....
. In 1941, the tower's mechanical clock was converted to run on electricity, and in 1977, a carillon
Carillon
A carillon is a musical instrument that is typically housed in a free-standing bell tower, or the belfry of a church or other municipal building. The instrument consists of at least 23 cast bronze, cup-shaped bells, which are played serially to play a melody, or sounded together to play a chord...
was added. Samford Hall underwent major renovations in 1971, and the original clockworks were replaced in 1995. Today, Samford Hall houses the school's administration, accounting, planning, and public relations offices.
Clock tower
Samford Hall's clock tower is the most recognized part of the building. The original clockworks were built by the Seth Thomas Clock Company of Thomaston, ConnecticutThomaston, Connecticut
Thomaston is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 7,503 at the 2000 census.-History:The town, originally part of Plymouth, Connecticut, and referred to as 'Plymouth Hollow' was first settled in the early 18th century. The town is known for clock making, which...
. These clockworks were replaced in 1995 by a clock and electronic carillon made by the Verdin Company of Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
. A portion of the original clockworks and an original clockface are on display in the reception area of Samford Hall. The Samford Hall carillon plays the Westminster Chimes on the quarter-hour, and plays the Auburn University fight song, "War Eagle", a few seconds after 12:00 noon.
According to a University legend, students once led a cow up the tower stairs as a prank.
"Holiday Tree" naming controversy
Since 2000, an evergreen tree in front of Samford Hall has been the site of the school's Christmas treeChristmas tree
The Christmas tree is a decorated evergreen coniferous tree, real or artificial, and a tradition associated with the celebration of Christmas. The tradition of decorating an evergreen tree at Christmas started in Livonia and Germany in the 16th century...
lighting ceremony. The decision to officially refer to the tree as a "Holiday Tree" (rather than a "Christmas Tree") resulted in controversy in 2005 when commentators on townhall.com
Townhall.com
Townhall.com is a web-based publication primarily dedicated to conservative United States politics. It was previously operated by the Heritage Foundation, but is now owned and operated by Salem Communications...
and World Net Daily criticized Auburn University's choice of names as an example of political correctness
Political correctness
Political correctness is a term which denotes language, ideas, policies, and behavior seen as seeking to minimize social and institutional offense in occupational, gender, racial, cultural, sexual orientation, certain other religions, beliefs or ideologies, disability, and age-related contexts,...
gone amok. As a compromise, the ceremony was in subsequent years renamed the "Holiday Celebration featuring the Lighting of the Christmas Tree."