The Council of Independent Colleges: Historic Campus Architecture Project

Watkins Bell Tower

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Watkins Bell Tower (dedication, 1934), Hampden-Sydney College

Watkins Bell Tower (in the snow), Hampden-Sydney College

Institution Name: Hampden-Sydney College
Original/Historic Place Name: Watkins Bell Tower
Location on Campus: College Rd.
Date(s) of Construction and Designer(s):

1934	original construction Welson, Courtenay S.

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

Foundation: brick

Walls: brick

Roof: slate

Function:

ca. 1934-present (2007)	memorial site
ca. 1934-present (2007)	bell tower

Significance: architecture, history, landscape
Landmark designation:

National Register

Hampden-Sydney College Historic District (1970)

Narrative: see below
References: see below

Narrative:
The Watkins Bell Tower was built to mark the geographical center of campus, halfway along the center axis of Cushing and Venable Halls. The structure is unchanged, although the surrounding landscape has: once encircled by bushes, the tower now sits in a concrete plaza.

The bell tower was named for Asa D. Watkins, beloved professor of English. It includes bricks from the homes of the Founders and early Trustees of the college. The bell is still rung to signal the change of classes each day. It was designed by Courtenay S. Welton, Class of 1919, who designed several other buildings here. He was the first alumnus to become an architect since R. L. Dabney, Class of 1858.

References:

I. Bibliographic sources:

Brinkley, John L. On This Hill: A Narrative History of Hampden-Sydney College. Hampden-Sydney, VA: Hampden-Sydney College, 1994.

Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission. Hampden-Sydney College Historic District. National Register of Historic Places designation report. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of the Interior/National Park Service, 1970.

II. Location of other data:

University: Library, Special Collections, Facilities Management Office

SHPO

Government Offices