The Council of Independent Colleges: Historic Campus Architecture Project

Pearsons Hall

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Pearsons Hall (partial view), McKendree College

Pearsons Hall (covered walkway), McKendree College

Institution Name: McKendree College
Original/Historic Place Name: Pearsons Hall
Location on Campus: College Hill, north view
Date(s) of Construction:

1911	original construction Zimmerman, W. C.

Designer: W. C. Zimmerman
Type of Place: Individual building
Style: Colonial revival (Glossary)
Significance: architecture, education, religion
Narrative: see below
References: see below

Materials:

Foundation: brick and concrete

Walls: brick

Roof: slate

Function:

ca. 1911	dining hall
ca. 2004-present (2006)	other (special events)

Narrative:
Pearsons Hall was originally used as the campus dining facility. It was positioned between the old men's dormitory (Carnegie) and the old women's dormitory (Clark). The two dormitories were connected by a glass enclosed breezeway to Pearsons. The glass has been removed, leaving an open air breezeway with a slate roof and supporting white pillars. Pearsons was also the campus stage for performances. The north side of the building has a semi-circle bay of windows that looks out on the north side of campus and the college mall.

Pearsons is no longer the dining facility for campus, though special dinners and other events are still held in the building. Many of the college's alumni revere this unique building, with its beautiful interior and magnificent view. Like the other campus buildings, it has a red brick exterior and a slate roof.

References:

McKendree College History, 1928-1978. Paducah, KY: Turner Publishing, 1996.

Selected items in College collections (including yearbooks, newspapers, catalogs, clippings). Archives. McKendree College, Lebanon, IL.

Steen, Robert, McKendree College. Lebanon, IL: McKendree College, 1948.

Walton, William A. Centennial McKendree College History with St. Clair County. Lebanon, IL: McKendree College, 1928.