The Council of Independent Colleges: Historic Campus Architecture Project

Heritage Hall

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Heritage Hall (three-quarter view), Valparaiso University

Institution Name: Valparaiso University
Original/Historic Place Name: Flint Hall
Location on Campus: west (old) campus
Date(s) of Construction and Designer(s):

1875	original construction Unknown
1879	renovation to roof after fire Unknown
1939	remodeled central doorway Unknown
1946	expansion Unknown
1959	remodeled to accommodate classrooms and offices Unknown

Type of Place: Individual building
Style(s): (Glossary)
Materials:

Foundation: masonry

Walls: masonry

Roof: rubber membrane

Function:

ca. 1875-1914	residence hall
ca. 1914-1925	other (WWI rehab classroom and shop)
ca. 1925-1959	library
ca. 1959	administration (offices)
ca. 2004-present (2007)	other (mail room and law clinic)

Significance: architecture, history
Landmark designation:

National Register

Heritage Hall (1976)

Narrative: see below
References: see below

Narrative:
Constructed in 1875, Heritage Hall is the only remaining building from the previous administration on the University's original site (now West Campus). The brick boarding hall, of Italianate design with a bracketed French Mansard roof and prominent dormers, originally was known as Flint Hall after its builder John Flint. Its most famous resident, George W. Norris, Senator from Nebraska, 1913-1943, remembered it as a "large three-story building which provided furnished rooms and board for men for $1.40 a week." After the third floor was destroyed by fire in 1879, a flat sloping roof was installed above the second floor. The new roof line was concealed by extending the outer walls to create a parapet on three sides, and the original chimneys were extended above the parapet line. In front, the parapet was decorated with a brick patterned frieze. In 1882 Prof. Richard Heritage became the proprietor, and the building became known as Heritage Hall.

In addition to boarding students, the building also has served as the shop and classroom for a federal program of World War I veteran rehabilitation, the University Library, and offices for administrative and faculty personnel. It currently serves as the Law School clinic. Two wings were added to the back of the building in the twentieth century. The first, a wood-framed barracks, was added for the use of soldiers in training on campus during World War I. In 1926 the barracks addition became the stack area for the library. In 1946 the stack area was enlarged with a cement block and brick addition. These additions currently house the University mail room.

Heritage Hall was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 12, 1976.

References:

I. Bibliographic sources:

Baepler, Richard. Flame of Faith, Lamp of Learning: A History of Valparaiso University. St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House, 2001.

Pick, Richard, Daniel Gahl, and Wayne Kiefer. Heritage Hall [Valparaiso University]. National Register of Historic Places designation report. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of the Interior/National Park Service, 1976.

II. Location of other data:

University: Special Collections, Facilities Management Office

SHPO

Government Offices