Jessica Hollinger
History 2700
Service Learning Project
December 6, 2002
“Old Main” 1898 – 2002
Cedar City is a place rich in history. By the mid 1850’s, settlers were already well established and prospering. These pioneers were strong and dedicated to the success of their community. Though the conditions were harsh and the territory still unfamiliar, the residents of Cedar City were determined to stay and thrive. Along with their resolve to stand firm in a new situation, these pioneers shared a desire to create a community of good and educated people. Here budded the idea of a plan for further education.
I do not believe that we realize the magnitude of the task the pioneers undertook. H. Marvin Jones helped to put this image into perspective in 1938 in a radio script. He said,
“To erect a building of that size in that early day, and all by community donations, was no easy task. It took men and women of sturdy determination, unusual ability, and sterling character; men and women who were so completely sold to the ideals of higher education for their children that no sacrifice was too great. These men and women set for us –their children – such an example of fortitude and trust as to eternally remind us not to falter before the things they left for us to finish.”
When I came down to Cedar City to go to school, I was unaware of the sacrifices and extreme efforts the early residents were willing to make to ensure that the dream of education became a reality. I was simply going to school to earn a degree and gain knowledge. I took for granted the luxury I enjoyed of being able to choose from many different institutions of higher education. As the twentieth century approached Cedar City, however, the options were scarce. Few students were able to expand their knowledge by furthering their education because the closest colleges were still too far away. Because the Cedar City settlers had such a hunger for education, we can now enjoy the privilege of attending Southern Utah University.
The view of campus is quite different now than it was one hundred years ago. For one thing the size of the campus is considerably larger now, and the buildings range in size and purpose. The only view that has remained unchanged over this century is the original building on the SUU campus. Old Main has occupied its small space on the hill longer than any other building has stood on campus. Each time a class meets within her walls, and each time a student’s gaze falls upon her proud exterior, we become reconnected to the past. Old Main is a physical reminder of the heritage of this city and the strength of its earliest occupants. Gerald R. Sherratt, a former president of Southern Utah University, once said of Old Main, “the building remains as a mute testimony of the spirit of the pioneers who were determined that Cedar City was to become a center of education and culture in Southern Utah.” If we forget the legacy of Old Main, we are robbing ourselves of remembering a rich vision of hope and courage. Each time we see this building still standing tall, we are given the opportunity to remember not only the physical work put forth by her builders, but also the vision of enlightenment the townspeople shared. This vision bound them together and helped them succeed against trying odds. Because forgetting this history would be such a sever loss, it is important to remember what was sacrificed so that we could enjoy education.
The title of my project is “Old Main” 1898 – 2002 because in the past one hundred years Old Main has made many contributions to the college and the community. It is amazing to realize that we can see and touch a brick that was put in its place by an early settler of Cedar City. There is a vast gap between 1898 and 2002, but Old Main not only spans this gap, she nearly eliminates it.
While all the students currently attending SUU stand to benefit from education about the history of Old Main, they are not the only ones. Cedar City is still occupied by many of the original settler’s descendents. These descendents might be very interested in learning what their ancestors stood for, and how they worked to make a dream come true. My ancestors are not among those who first settled this valley yet I found that I came away from my research filled with inspiration and gratitude for their fortitude. If I was able to realize the significance of their choices, it is plausible to think that their descendents would be even more inspired and grateful. One group of descendents expressed their gratitude to the founders by inscribing a plaque with the words, “In memory of the founders… their love for education and culture made this institution possible. The realization of their desire has enriched a grateful commonwealth.”
In addition to the students and community, there are other beneficiaries of information and education about Old Main. Each year Cedar City is visited by thousands of culture-seeking visitors. While enjoying some of the other significant sights in the city, these visitors might also enjoy a historically educational experience. While walking through this beautiful campus, the visitors might find it even more fascinating if information was available about its history. Of all the buildings, Old Main is the richest in historical significance. It might strike the attention of a passerby when they learn of the dangerous winter journey to get the wood to build Old Main, or perhaps the fire of 1948 might be more interesting to the listener. Whatever history captures the listener, it is important to have it available so this legacy will continue.
Because of the historical significance of Old Main, excellent records have been kept about the building. There are pictures and documents spanning the time when Old Main was just an idea to now. These records are available in the SUU library and primarily in the Special Collections section. In researching Old Main, I was aided by the assistants of this department who were able to provide information concerning the construction and preservation of the building. I was able to read newspaper articles and view pictures that told the story of Old Main. The compilation of information in the Special Collections department is extensive. Each time any information dealing with Old Main is brought to light, the Special Collections department documents it and keeps record of it. It was very helpful to sit for hours and learn the history of Old Main from papers, booklets, personal histories, and photographs.
In addition to the resources available in Special Collections, I was also able to check out a book from the library that told a nearly complete history of Old Main. The book is written by Anne O. Leavitt and is entitled, Southern Utah University, a Heritage History: The First Hundred Years. In this text I was able to hear the stories of the building of Old Main. Before I began my research I had no idea what a struggle it was to build Old Main. I had seen the bronze statue of the horse pulling a wagon out of the snow located on the west side of the Centrum, but I did not realize the significance of that event, nor how well it represented the way most of the hauling was done. I was amazed to learn that the town had pulled together to make the college a reality, but in order to do that, construction had to be started in the winter. Men with their teams and wagons left their homes to make a 35 mile drive through unknown territory in the bitterest snow to bring the necessary wood to build Old Main. This is one of many stories printed in the above mentioned prose. While most people do not pick up Southern Utah University, a Heritage History: The First Hundred Years as a way to engage in light reading, perhaps making available, in a smaller amount, some of the information shared in the book would be of interest to a reader.
While I have spent considerable time researching Old Main, I feel that more time could be spent on the same project. There are many articles and resources available to search. Therefore, to ensure that all the most vital information is included in a final report, even further research would be useful. If I were to engage in a service learning project again I would continue my work in this same area.
One of the ideas that I have for further work in this area includes a web site specifically about Old Main. I thought it could be a link on the SUU homepage. My first intention was to only have the work published on paper and available for tourists, but as I have looked into this project and gained a greater appreciation for it, I feel more of a responsibility to share it with my fellow students. By making the same text available on line, I feel more people would read it and become interested in it. I do not know how I would go about making this happen, but as I alluded to previously, this is a project that could easily be worked on again.
Other service learning projects that might be related to my project would include any research on the history of Southern Utah University. If another student were to research the old science building (Braithwaite building) for example, the findings in that search would compliment my research and vise versa.
Other areas that might be studied and relevant to my project would include other historical buildings in Cedar City. Old Main was not only the first building on what is now the Southern Utah University campus; it was also one of the first buildings in Cedar City. In addition, because of the sacrifices the community made to build Old Main, and because of their strong desire for further education, it was and is a beloved building in the city. No view of significant buildings in Cedar City would be complete without a look into the history of Old Main.
I have enjoyed the opportunity I’ve had to learn more about Old Main, specifically how it was built and why it is important. I’ll admit I was surprised by the sacrifices that were made to bring higher education to Cedar City and I am grateful that Old Main still stands as a reminder of our institution’s beginning.
It was interesting to see how my level of interest changed over the semester as I learned more about Old Main. I remember reading about the fire in 1948 and how devastating it was to the community. I can not image how they must have felt to see smoke and flames billow from the roof of the building they had worked so hard to erect. They must have been in shock as they carried their beloved books from the flame-filled library. The students worked together to salvage as much as they could, but in the end, the loss was tremendous. Then, as if watching your school and hope burn was not traumatic enough, the students watched the flames surround and bury the bell tower and the 1,800 pound bell drop through the other floors before finally coming to rest on the ground below. These were some of the images that stuck me the most. These are some of the images that help us remember our building, our college, our community, and our education. These are the images we cannot afford to loose. They came at such an extreme cost that forgetting them would be an extreme loss.
As I realized the significance of the sacrifices that were made to make the dream of a local university a reality, I also gained an appreciation for the men and women who worked for their dream. Keeping this legacy alive will reminds me of the privilege I have of engaging in higher education. If I forget the past, I strip myself of a resource that would help me attain my greatest potential.
Remembering Old Main is only a small part of the history we stand to be benefited from, but by learning about this building and realizing we are blessed with a rich history, we situate ourselves to be more open to learning about the past in the future.
Appendix
I wanted to give a brief account of some of the information I have included in my report. This history begins with the idea of higher education in the southern end of the state and continues through the education we receive today.
Before we can examine the actual building we now call Old Main, it is important to study the community and the beginning of the college. The Cedar Valley was once inhabited by Indians, but by the late 1850’s the valley was populated by early settlers. The land was a rugged frontier that required strong, dedicated residence. Among the early inhabitance of Cedar City were farmers, doctors, blacksmiths, bricklayers, teachers, carpenters, weavers, and soap makers. The settlers arrived in winter so they could be settled in the city before spring came. This logic allowed them to plant their seeds as early as they could in the season. One of the many commonalities in this community was the desire for education. Few families could afford to send their children north for further education, so the idea for a more local branch was born.
Elected representatives lobbied for a branch of a large school to be brought to southern Utah. The University of Utah decided to open the Southern Branch of the State Normal in one of the towns in southern Utah. By 1897 the decision of the actual site of the campus was still undecided. The governor appointed three men to visit the sites that were being considered as potential campuses: Dr. James E. Talmage, a prominent educator; Karl G. Maesar, superintendent of public instruction; and Dr. John R. Park, president of the University of Utah. Cedar City’s competition included the neighboring communities of Beaver, Parowan, and Paragonah.
After careful consideration of the possible sites to build the school on, the University of Utah decided on Cedar City. It is recorded in Dr. Talmage’s journal on May 19, 1897 that building the college in Cedar City was “best for the greatest number of prospective students.” The residents of Cedar City could not have been happier, but they had much work ahead of them to make the school a success.
The Branch Normal School (BNS) was open to students in the fall of 1897. The students met in the newly completed Ward Hall. Shortly after the school opened, a message came from Salt Lake addresses to the committee members over the BNS. There was a problem. In accordance with state mandate, any school functioning as a state school had to have a building owned by the state or the state could not fund anything associated with the school.
The committee members broke the news to the community and ideas were presented about what could be done. It was winter and the necessary supplies to begin the state owned building were 35 miles away. If the community waited until spring to begin hauling the materials, they would never finish in time for school to open the following fall. In desperation, the committee asked the college president, Milton Bennion, to travel to Salt Lake during the Christmas break and ask the state and the University of Utah for more time. His attempts failed because the law of the state stipulated that a new building must be built. If the citizens of Cedar City were unable to meet the requirements, their precious school would have to be closed after just one year. When this information was reported to the town, in was early January, 1898 though the community did not think it was possible to complete a building by September, it was decided that they would try. It was the city members that donated the money and energy to make their dream a reality. This is impressive considering Cedar City was a community of about 750 adults, none of whom were wealthy. These few people were able to contribute the $35,000 needed for the project.
In addition to the huge bill the residents agreed to pay, there was also a matter of time to deal with. The exhibition to get the lumber would have to begin within a few days, in the middle of winter. This was an especially hard winter and the road to the mill as unknown. In these months of hauling came heroic stories of men and horses, working together to obtain the necessary wood. A complete list of the men who hauled lumber to build Old Main is available in the Special Collections department. Once the lumber was brought, the brick makers and rock cutters worked feverishly to make sure they had enough supplies to complete the building.
On March 15, 1898 the cornerstones were placed and construction began. The foundation was four feet thick and the design called for nine tiers if stone before the first row of windows. The building ascended three floors and stood as a tall reminder in the community of the excitement of education. Those who volunteered to work on the building did so in addition to their other work and chores. The time constrains and money expenditures were extreme sacrifices, but the community was willing to work together and save their school. Though construction was still continuing into the fall, the building was close enough to be finished that the state allowed students to return to classes in September 1898.
On October 12, 1898 Old Main was dedicated as the facility to house the BNS. The building served as the library and various classes. Until 1905, Old Main was the only building on campus. Because of the sacrifices that were made to build it, it became beloved to those who poured all they had into building it.
For fifty years, Old Main stood firm and strong. Then, on December 12, 1948 a local paperboy and his father noticed smoke billowing from the top of Old Main. They rushed to get help, but before the fire department reached the scene, the roof and attic were already engulfed in flames. While some citizens rushed to contain the fire, others entered the burning building to salvage their precious library. Students made a human brigade down the stairs to pass books carefully from one to another and safely outside. When the flames penetrated the library, the students threw out as many books as they could, but in the end, the loss was severe. The entire top floor of Old Main was completely destroyed. The bell that had been donated to the school by the community in 1898 fell three floors before slamming into the ground and cracking so severely that it could not be repaired. Collections of literature and art supplies were lost. Tears were shed, but classes resumed the following day. It is thought that the fire was a result of faulty wiring in the attic.
Because of the fire, Old Main was remodeled in 1950, then again in 1977. The library is no longer located in Old Main, and the building is now used primarily by the English department. In July, 1970, Old Main was placed on the State Historical Register. This ensured the preservation of the building. In 1984, Old Main was recommended and accepted to be on the National Register of Historical Places.
There are many stories associated with this historic treasure. Old Main has been a part of this campus longer than anything else and it continues to stand today as a beloved reminder of the dedication and sacrifice of her builders, as well as their firm desire to be blessed with education. When we remember the legacy of Old Main, we remember the privilege we have of learning and the responsibility we have to ensure that others enjoy this opportunity for centuries to come.