The Council of Independent Colleges: Historic Campus Architecture Project

Cupples Hall

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Cupples Hall (front facade), Central Methodist University

Institution Name: Central Methodist University
Original/Historic Place Name: Samuel Cupples Hall
Location on Campus: Main Quad
Date(s) of Construction:

1899	original construction

Designer: unknown
Type of Place: Individual building
Style: Romanesque revival (Glossary)
Significance: architecture, culture, education, history
Narrative: see below
References: see below

Materials:

Foundation: stone

Walls: brick

Roof: asphalt shingle

Function:

ca. 1899	residence hall (men's)
ca. 2004-present (2006)	library
ca. 2004-present (2006)	faculty offices
ca. 2004-present (2006)	classrooms

Narrative:
The building was erected as a men's dormitory and named after Samuel Cupples, a curator of Central College who donated $25,000 to the school. The building is three stories high with a raised basement and measures 88 x 45 feet. It is constructed of two tones of red brick; a belt course between the second and third stories separates the two tones. A small, four story turret of native stone is slightly off center right with a veranda featuring a low hip roof, plain box cornice and frieze, and four rock faced pillars covering the rest of the front façade to the left of the turret. The raised basement and front steps feature the same rock-faced, random ashlar stones. Rock faced lintels and sills are above and below each window. In the center of the turret is a stone medallion with the initials S.C. (for Samuel Cupples) and dated 1899. Under each window on this level is a circular medallion with the rock faced stone placed to give a sunburst effect. The influence of Richardsonian Romanesque is clearly visible in this building. A modern addition to the rear features a theatre and the rest of the library, although due to the slope of the ground this addition is not visible from the front.

References:

Central Methodist College Campus Master Plan. Central Methodist University, Fayette, MO.

McVicker, Maryellen H., Larry Dimond, June Thade, Bartlett Jones, and Sue Koch. Central Methodist College Campus Historic District. National Register of Historic Places designation report. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of the Interior/National Park Service, 1980.

Tucker, Frank C. Central Methodist College: One Hundred and Ten Years. Nashville: Parthenon Press, 1967.