#TBT in the Archives 4/13/17: CVSNS Historic District

Shippensburg University is fortunate to retain its five original academic buildings, which are still used today by students, administrators and faculty as offices and classrooms and in the case of one building, a residence.

Built between 1873 and 1915, Old Main, Stewart Hall, Horton Hall, Martin House, and Gilbert Hall comprise the Cumberland Valley State Normal School Historic District. The district was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 11, 1985.

Old Main renovations in 1983. The university began work to include the building in the Cumberland Valley State Normal School Historic District during the project.

Finished in 1873, Old Main is the original college building and originally hosted all school facilities until the 1890s. Designed by Samuel Sloan, the Classical Revival building was renovated in 1983-1984. The university nominated Old Main and the other four buildings for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places based on their architectural styles and preservation.

Stewart Hall in the late 1930s.

Stewart Hall, designed by Arthur P. Rosser, was constructed between 1893 and 1895 in the Romanesque Revival style. Originally the school gymnasium, Stewart Hall was later home to the Communications Journalism Department before its current role hosting Theatre Department labs and art studios.

Horton Hall in the 1970s.

Also built in the 1890s, Horton Hall was the second building constructed in the Romanesque Revival style. The building, connected to Old Main by a second-floor bridge, was the CVSNS women's dorm before being converted to offices and the Women's Center.

Martin House in the early 1990s, when it was the home of President Anthony Ceddia.

Martin House was completed in 1908. Designed by Maurice R. Rhoads, the classical-style house is named after its first resident, Principal Samuel Martin and is today the university president's house.

A 1920s postcard showing Gilbert Hall when it was the model school at CVSNS.

Gilbert Hall was the last building to be completed in the historic district. Constructed as the model school in the second decade of the 1900s, it was also designed by Rhoads in the Renaissance Revival style. Today the building is home to classrooms and Multicultural Student Affairs.

The university's application to establish the historic district was signed by the state historic preservation officer on April 19, 1984. This officer, from the Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission, certified the five buildings were important architectural remnants from their period and confirmed the historic district has state significance because of its history as a state normal school. The National Register, a component of the National Park Service, approved the district eight months later.

SU Archives & Special Collections has a copy of the original application to the National Register of Historic Preservation as well as historic photos of these and many other buildings on campus at various times throughout the university's history. To learn more, email specialcollections@ship.edu


Sources:
National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form, Record Group 24, Subgroup 24.8, Box 1, Folder 15. Shippensburg University Archives & Special Collections, Shippensburg, PA.
Photographs: Buildings and Structures on Campus, Record Group 30, Box 1 and Box 1a. Shippensburg University Archives & Special Collections, Shippensburg, PA.