herr2ck: The Harvard Experience

Photos from November 2024.

I wouldn’t consider Ohio State remotely comparable to Harvard whatsoever (although I guess it’s a “public Ivy”), but dorms like Mack Hall were always what I imagined living there would be like as a kid. Ironically, Harvard is a largely neoclassical school, barring the High Victorian Gothic Memorial Hall.

Mack Hall is located on the far south side of campus. It is bordered by Oxley Hall to the north, 11th Avenue to the south, Canfield Hall to the east, and Neil Avenue and Postle Hall to the west. Mack Hall was added onto twice over its lifetime, and work was done by different architects and contractors.

History

The first part of the building that was known as Mack Hall (the northernmost and closest to Oxley Hall, see diagram below) was designed by university architect Joseph N. Bradford in the Collegiate Gothic style in 1921. Construction work began in February 1922, after initial plans were rejected twice for being too expensive, and concluded in October 1923. The contractor was L. L. LeVeque Co. Mack Hall, like many other south campus dorms, has a reinforced concrete frame and a brick exterior.

Mack Hall’s original footprint.

Residents of Mack Hall in front of Pomerene Hall, c. 1924. (University Archives)

Mack Hall’s first addition was designed by university architect Howard Dwight Smith in 1934. Contractor H. R. Blagg Co. began construction in June 1934 and it was completed by October 1, 1935. This addition is the part that abuts the corner of 11th and Neil Avenues.

Mack Hall’s footprint after its first addition.

Historic photo of the first addition and its fleche. (CML)

There’s less available information about the second addition, but it was built at the same time as Canfield Hall and the first section of Kennedy Commons/Women’s Dining Hall, so presumably it was designed by Howard Dwight Smith as well. It was ready for occupancy by autumn 1940. This addition flanks 11th Avenue. The entire complex has a net square footage of 49,283.

Mack Hall’s current footprint.

Postcard of Mack Hall, c. 1921-1930. (CML)

An interesting alternative name for Mack Hall and its surrounding dorms is the “Women’s Dormitory Quadrangle.” I found a series of old campus maps on the University Archives website, and it seems like a set of residence halls similar in footprint to Oxley Hall were planned in this shape. Mack Hall sort of follows this precedent, but the later female dorms that were built there don’t whatsoever.

Campus map c. 1903-1920. (University Archives)

Mack Hall, unlike the other women’s dorms on campus, was named after a man--John Mack (died 1914). Though he did not attend Ohio State, he served on the Board of Trustees from 1893 until his death, never missing a meeting. Described as a good businessman, he had big plans for the fledgling Ohio State University. He was also the publisher and editor of the Sandusky Register and the founder and president of Ohio Associated Dailies.

John Mack, undated. (Buckeye Stroll)

Mack Hall was only the second female residence hall on campus, after Oxley Hall. There was high demand for female housing, mainly because Ohio State relied heavily on state income, and the low amount they received was used for other needs. Schools like Xichigan likewise depended on state funds, but were given far more. Life was rather tough for women living on campus at the time--read my article on Oxley Hall for more details.

I found a Tumblr post via an old Eleven Warriors article that transcribed the text from an old postcard of Mack Hall. In it, a student named Mary is writing to Beatrice, explaining her life in college:

“It’s a snowy Thursday night, January 29, 1925. Mary is writing her friend or sister Beatrice back home in tiny Beaver, Ohio in Pike County. She talks about the heavy snow, her cold, and student teaching at Northwood Elementary. A mutual friend has gotten a radio. She’s looking forward to a fudge party Saturday and a blind date with a friend’s frat brother next Friday. She asks Beatrice to send her silk dress for the date.

‘Here is a picture of your home for next winter,’ she tells incoming student Beatrice.

Mary loves Ohio State and Mack Hall and all her friends there but graduation is near and Mary’s a little sad about it. ‘I wish I had 4 years before me, like you do.’”

The postcard. (udhcmh on Tumblr)

Not much has really changed for Mack Hall since its construction. The ivy growing on the building in the below picture has since been cleared (though I honestly prefer the earlier look, even though ivy is usually bad for masonry). The only major renovation happened in 2000, executed by Schooley Caldwell.

Mack Hall in 1961. (Buckeye Stroll)

Photos

Personally, I think Mack Hall is the most attractive dorm on south campus. My vote would normally go to Oxley Hall, but since it is no longer a residence hall, I don’t think it qualifies. I love the Collegiate Gothic look, it’s more traditional and much prettier than the bland Modernist high-rises everywhere else. As a result, I’m gonna be salivating over the details on this one a lot.

Mack Hall’s main facade is symmetrical -- two projections with entrances to the building flank a simpler middle section. However, even that area isn't unadorned, as the fourth floor has gables and an oriel window can be seen. The northwest entrance is very attractive:

I love the relief of the building’s name and the pointed arch over the entryway. The exterior masonry also features brick and stone mixed together, probably to recall the cobbled-together nature of small medieval Gothic churches.

The southwest entrance is wider, and the top windows take on the appearance of a Gothic-styled Romanesque window:

Around back, the second and third additions:

This side has a “Romeo and Juliet” balcony, which I always thought was an interesting design choice. It’s not accessible, but I found the doorways to it later.

The L-shaped footprint of Mack Hall creates a courtyard, and that space is connected to the area in between the other southwest dorms:

Here’s the back of the original building, featuring much decorative brickwork and woodwork:

Next, I tried getting detail shots of the fleche and this odd curving chimney, but I could not for the life of me get them exposed properly. It was a cloudy day, but for whatever reason the sun decided to come out and shine right into my shot, which made me have to turn my shutter speed way down and underexpose the pictures. As annoying as that was, though, it made this one look really artsy:

Cue the haunting organ music. Anyways…I happened to be documenting Canfield Hall a bit later and it was cloudy again, so here’s a better look:

Such a beautiful detail on an already-great building. Here’s that chimney I was talking about:

From that angle, you can also see that the building has slate roofing. I’m unsure if it’s original, probably just a replacement considering the building’s age, but slate has a much longer lifespan than asphalt.

The entrance has this weird balcony behind a locked door…

…as well as a stone relief of John Mack incorporated into the wall.

Inside, I was surprised how tight and intimate the interior was. Most of the campus dorms are pretty cramped, but this one felt nicer due to the interior decoration. Take notes, W. E. Linch. The front desk was closed during daytime on a weekday, which is odd for most dorms:

Looking down the ground floor’s hallway:

The stairs had their original hardware and newel posts:

Here’s an average hallway. I’m surprised they haven’t dropped the ceiling and covered up all the wiring and conduits.

The bathrooms stick out oddly into the hallway, as seen above, and these hallways are rather utilitarian. It is probably the product of the 2000 renovation.

Something that began to strike me as I wandered was how stinky Mack was. It smelled like rancid B.O. Most campus buildings either smell clean or don’t at all, so this was odd to me.

Rounding the corner towards the more southern entrance, the hallway becomes paneled in wood:

THIS is what I picture when I think of “old college dorms.” Rich wood paneling, trophy cases with the rowing awards won by Cornelius Noseworthy III in 1900, and a warm and cozy atmosphere. It just needs a fire going.

Another view of that study room by the lobby:

I can’t tell if this is original decor or not…the balusters could equally be 1920s design or 1980s kitsch. Towards the south, I found the doors to the balcony seen earlier:

I headed east and found this microscopic study room:

The building jogged left again and I was confused…I didn’t think Mack was that big. It wasn’t until I looked out the above window and saw Fechko House that I realized that I was actually in Canfield Hall. The two are connected after all.

On the fourth floor, the most busted college football rankings I’ve ever seen:

These have got to be from week 1. I don’t know what Ohio State fan in their right mind would rank Alabama over us, even if they had a better record. USC is dog this year and is barely bowl eligible, Mizzou doesn’t even deserve a ranking at this point, and all the SEC teams have like 3 losses because they keep losing to each other and crappy unranked teams like Vanderbilt.

Roof access: