The Council of Independent Colleges: Historic Campus Architecture Project

Payson Hall

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Payson Hall (three-quarter view), St. Lawrence University

Institution Name: St. Lawrence University
Original/Historic Place Name: Horticultural Hall, Dairy Building
Location on Campus: Park St.
Date(s) of Construction:

1910-1911

original construction New York State Architect's Office

Designer: New York State Architect's Office
Type of Place: Individual building
Style: Other (Glossary)
Significance: architecture, education, religion
Narrative: see below
References: see below

Materials:

Foundation: stone

Walls: brick and Potsdam sandstone

Roof:

Function:

ca. 1911	academic department building (Horticultural and Dairy Building for State School of Agriculture)
ca. 2004-present (2006)	administration (admissions)

Narrative:
The second main building erected as part of the State Agricultural School, Payson originally served as the horticultural and dairy building. It is a small two-story rectangular brick building with much less architectural detailing than adjacent Cook Hall. Window lintels and most other devices to relieve the wall plans are of the same red brick, thereby giving the structure a more stolid appearance. Symmetrical on all sides, the main facade features a central bay set out from the building and containing the main entrance, which is heavily trimmed in Potsdam sandstone. A truncated hip roof is pierced by varying sized dormers.

References:

Baule, John A. St. Lawrence University--Old Campus Historic District. National Register of Historic Places designation report. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of the Interior/National Park Service, 1974.