UConn Firsts: The First Brick Building on Campus

In its early decades, the campus of what became the University of Connecticut was largely made of wood and plaster: Old Main, Whitney Hall, and other buildings either predated the school or were built quickly to accommodate its growing population. In an era of open flames and kerosene lamps, this sometimes led to disaster: Gold Hall, the Chemical Laboratory, and the first women’s dorm would all fall victim to fires in the early years. Something had to change, and in 1906, thanks to the efforts of President Rufus Stimson, Storrs Hall was built as the first brick building on campus. Originally a residence hall, it was also only the fourth building on campus to be wired for electricity after the chapel, library, and dining hall. In the 118 years since, it has undergone many changes, including serving as a general purpose classroom building and, currently, as the home of the School of Nursing, which is scheduled to move into a brand-new state-of-the-art facility in Fall 2026. Whatever the next chapter for Storrs Hall, it will no doubt remain, as President Stimson called it, “a beautiful and enduring embodiment of the hope” of generations of UConn students.

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