National Register of Historic Places

College Hall

Fayette, Fayette County, Iowa
Listed
November 7, 1976
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
76000770

About this property

Alexander-Dickman Hall, formerly known as Old Sem, Old Main, and College Hall, is a historic building located on the campus of Upper Iowa University in Fayette, Iowa, United States. It was the first building built for the college, and for a number of years it was its only building. Construction on the building began in 1855 and it was completed two years later. Its significance derives, in part, from it being "one of the largest and best preserved native stone buildings still in use in Iowa." Architecturally, the three-story limestone structure is influenced by several styles. Its simplicity of form reflects the Neoclassical style in its evenly spaced windows and arched doorway. The Palladian windows and the structure's tripartite arrangement capped by a triangular pediment of the main facade reflects the Federalist style. The bracketed eaves at the cornice reflects the Italianate style. The building is capped with a domed cupola. It received its present name in 1963 being named for the man who first financed to college (Alexander) and its president in the 1920s (Dickman). The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

Location

200 block of E. Clark
Fayette, Fayette County, Iowa
42.84153, -91.80217

Categories

EDUCATIONARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
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Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
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Questions about this property

When was College Hall listed on the National Register?

College Hall was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 7, 1976.

What type of historic resource is College Hall?

College Hall is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for College Hall?

The period of significance for College Hall is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near College Hall?

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