National Register of Historic Places

Edwards Gymnasium/Pfieffer Natatorium

Delaware, Delaware County, Ohio
Listed
March 18, 1985
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
85000632

About this property

The Edwards Gymnasium and Pfeiffer Natatorium is a building on the main campus of Ohio Wesleyan University. Inaugurated in 1906, it was designed by architect J.W. Yost and was built by Feick & Son. Edwards Hall is a 1,800-seat multi-purpose arena. Located at the south end of the campus in Delaware, Ohio, it was home to the OWU Battling Bishops men's and women's swimming and women's handball teams. It has a stone entry portico and a "dominant" red tile roof with dormers. The gymnasium is named for alumnus John Edwards of Leipsic, Ohio, who served on the board of trustees of the university and was a major benefactor to the university. In 1985, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places along with the natatorium named for benefactor Annie Merner Pfeiffer. The Pfeiffer Natatorium was the competition pool for OWU from 1954 to 2010. Basketball and volleyball competition, and other indoor sports, were moved to the 2,300 seat Branch Rickey Arena, built adjacent to Edwards Gymnasium, upon its completion in 1976. The Edwards Gymnasium was then renovated to accommodate the Pfeiffer Natatorium, named for donor Annie Merner Pfeiffer. It is 150 by 83 feet (46 m × 25 m) in plan. Built mainly of light-colored brick, it has a hipped red clay-tiled roof with dormers at both ends and sides. The complex was listed on the National Register as part of a 1984 study of historic resources on the OWU campus. Edwards Gymnasium and Pfieffer Natatorium, Main Campus, S. Sandusky St. Ohio Wesleyan University Student Observatory, W. William St. National Register of Historic Places listings in Delaware County, Ohio Media related to Edwards Gymnasium at Wikimedia Commons

Location

Delaware, Delaware County, Ohio
40.29469, -83.06752

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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Nearby Historic Sites

Delaware Post Office
Industrial
0 mi
Slocum Hall
Industrial
0.1 mi
Elliott Hall, Sturges Library, And Merrick Hall
Listed
0.1 mi
University Hall-Gray's Chapel
Industrial
0.1 mi
Selby Field
Industrial
0.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Edwards Gymnasium/Pfieffer Natatorium listed on the National Register?

Edwards Gymnasium/Pfieffer Natatorium was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 18, 1985.

What type of historic resource is Edwards Gymnasium/Pfieffer Natatorium?

Edwards Gymnasium/Pfieffer Natatorium is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Edwards Gymnasium/Pfieffer Natatorium?

The period of significance for Edwards Gymnasium/Pfieffer Natatorium is recorded as the industrial era.

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