Christopher Hall of Science

By the 1960s, Haymond Hall of Science had become outdated, and Stanley Martin went out to let everyone know about the need for a new science building.

After hearing a sermon by President Stanley Martin at Wesley Methodist Church in Morgantown, Mabel Neville Christopher (1918) and her husband, Frank, a mine owner in the Scotts Run area, gave a substantial gift toward a new science building in memory of their son, Ward, who had died in an automobile accident in 1962.

Hyma Auditorium, the Planetarium, and the George Rossbach Herbarium are located in this building.

Architect’s Rendering of Christopher Hall of Science.

Architect’s Rendering of Christopher Hall of Science and Rockefeller Gymnasium (Larson and Larson)

(1967-03-31) Groundbreaking for the Christopher Hall of Science.

(1967-04-17) Construction started on the Christopher Hall of Science

(1968-01) Science Hall Sparks Hopes for Future, teaching of Science at Wesleyan, by Ernest Capstack, Jr. Professor of Chemistry. [West Virginia Wesleyan College Bulletin 1968-01, p.4]

(1968-02-06) Science Building Delayed [Pharos 1968-02-06, p.1]

(1968-09-10) Science Building Nears Completion [Pharos 1968-09-10, p.3]

(1968-10-29) Christopher Hall Opens in January [Pharos 1968-10-29, p.3]

(1969-02-10) Much of this issue of the Pharos is devoted to celebration of the opening of Christopher Hall of Science. [Pharos 1969-02-25] Includes an interview with Professor of the Week: George Rossbach. We learn that moving from Haymond Hall  was done mainly by students, faculty, and visitors and that the first class conducted in the building was BIO 305 at 8:00 am on Monday February 10, 1969. It was a course in physiology taught by Wayland P. Taylor, assistant professor of Biology.

Three Day Fete for Science Hall [Pharos, 1969-03-18, p.3]

(1969-03-22) “Odyssey’s’ Clarke to Give Speech [Pharos 1969-03-18, p.3] Arthur C. Clarke, inventor of the communications satellite and co-author of the book and film “2001: A Space Odyssey” will address the March 22 convocation in Wesley Chapel at 2:00 p.m.

(1969-03-23) Sill Scheduled for Science Sermon [Pharos 1969-03-18, p.3] Chapel Service will include a sermon by Dr. W.H. Sill, Jr. (class of 1939) is an international authority on plant pathology and the viruses affecting plants, a Methodist Minister, and professor of botany and plant pathology at Kansas State University since 1952.

(1969) Governor Moore, Arthur Clarke Featured at Science Hall Dedication [Pharos 1969-04-01, p.5]

(1969) Science Hall’s First Glint to First Class Spans Years [West Virginia Wesleyan Bulletin 1969-05, p.1]. This overview is four pages of information about the building, the departments, faculty, and programs that are being impacted.

(2019) A Moment in Time and Space [2019 DreamersAndGiants]

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