University of Arizona- South Hall
Tucson, Arizona

Description: South Hall, University of Arizona
Other Names: Apache Hall, College of Fine Arts; Music Hall; College of Education
Address: University of Arizona campus, Tucson, Pima County, Arizona
Type: educational: men’s dormitory
Original Client: Board of Regents, University of Arizona
Date: 1899
Condition: demolished, October, 1958

Architect or Firm: Henry C. Trost
Associated Architect or Firm:
Contractors: Sullivan & Whitehead (construction); W. J. Corbett (plumbing)
Dimensions and Orientation: two stories
Budget/Cost: $9,275 (construction); $689 (plumbing)

Foundation:
Wall Materials: brick and stone
Roofing Materials:
Other Materials Used:
Remodeling and Additions: 1913: west wing sleeping porch added; 1916: east wing sleeping porch added

Location of Drawings: None known to exist
Location of Documentary Photographs: Special Collections, Library of the University of Arizona

Bibliography: (1) Arizona Daily Star, Tucson, June 11, 1899, page [4], (names architect, gives description, reports that plans are to be completed by June 20)
(2) Arizona Weekly Star, Tucson, June 15, 1899, page 2
(3) Arizona Daily Citizen, June 15, 1899, page [4] and November 7, 1899, page [4]
(4) Arizona Daily Star, Tucson, June 23, 1899, page [4] (advertisement for bids from contractors, due July 5, 1899)
(5) Arizona Daily Star, Tucson, July 9, 1899, page [4]: The bids for the erection of a new dormitory and alterations to the old dormitory at the University of Arizona has been opened. There were five bids and Sullivan & Whitehead made the lowest estimate. Their figures were below $11,000. Work will be commenced very shortly
(6) Tucson (Ariz.) News, The Builder and Contractor (Los Angeles), volume XIV, number 336, August 2, 1899, page [1]: The contract for the erection of a new dormitory, and alterations to other portions of the University of Arizona at Tucson has been let to Sullivan & Whitehead. The cost of which will be about $10,000.
(7) Arizona Daily Star, Tucson, August 30, 1899, page [4]: The completion of the boys’ dormitory will necessitate a number of changes at the university. The building now occupied by the boys will be remodeled for the girls and the fine buildings occupied by the latter will probably be used for residences. The boys’ dormitory is making rapid progress. The walls are well along and in a short time the building will make a fine showing. When completed it will be the most imposing of the university buildings. From an architectural standpoint it will be a beautiful structure.
(8) Arizona Daily Star, Tucson, August 31, 1899, page [4]: The Tucson Stone and Marble Works are working on some large stone caps for the new university building.
(9)Arizona Daily Star, Tucson, September 13, 1899, page [4]: University Notes. Work on the new dormitory is progressing rapidly. The roof is up, and the stone caps to the large Corinthian [sic; i.e., Ionic] pillars at the front of the building have been set in place.
(10) Arizona Daily Star, Tucson, September 28, 1899, page [4]: A large force of men is pushing ahead the work on the new University building. It is the intention to have it ready for occupancy on or about November 15.
(11) Arizona Daily Star, Tucson, November 26, 1899, page [4]: The dormitory annex [sic] on the University grounds will be ready for occupancy by Dec.
(12) Lloyd C. and June F. Engelbrecht, Henry C. Trost: Architect of the Southwest (El Paso: El Paso Public Library Association, 1981), page 27
(13) Phyllis Ball, the Real South Hall: Home for Boys and Brahms, Lo Que Pasa; Faculty and Staff News (University of Arizona), volume 6, number 4, September 13, 1982, page [1], illustration of damage after windstorm; pages 7 and 8, history and illustrations
(14) Phyllis Ball, A Photographic History of the University of Arizona, 1885-1985, 2nd printing, with corrections (Tucson: University of Arizona Foundation, 1987), pages 32, 54, 428, 429 ET passim
(15) Arizona Republican December 11, 1899 page 3 speaks of the new dormitory is almost ready for students

Remarks:

In June of 1899, Henry Trost began the plans for a new men’s dormitory on the campus at the University of Arizona. The South Hall was to be built in a shape of a cross, with 40 rooms. The structure was to be constructed of brick and stone. Massive Ionic columns were to be placed at the main entrance. The current boy’s dormitory on campus was to be later remodeled for a dormitory for girls.

The next month contractors Whitehead & Sullivan were awarded the contract for $9,275 and work began immediately. W.J. Corbett was hired to do the plumbing at a cost of $689. By the middle of September the roof was on and the columns were up. In November bids were taken for furnishings: cots, washstands, lamps, tables, chairs, stoves, desks and rugs. The day after Christmas the boys moved into the new dormitory.

On August 7, 1903, a huge windstorm blew the front portion of the roof off the building. The cost for repairs was $1,336.

In 1904, the water closets were removed from the main building and placed in a building in the rear. The building was repainted and wire screens placed on all the windows. Trees were planted on the south side of the building.

In 1913-14, under the direction of Colonel Brown several improvements were made to the building. The water closets were moved to the main building and a second-story sleeping porch was added over the west wing. In 1916, to balance out the building a sleeping porch was added on the east side of the building. South Hall remained a dormitory until 1924-25. In the early 1920s, the name was changed to Apache Hall. In 1928, it was officially changed to the Music Hall. Then finally becoming the College of Fine Arts in 1934.

In October 1958, the building was demolished to make room for a new Home Economics Building.

The commission included a new dormitory, and alterations to an existing dormitory (see notes 5 and 7, above). The building is a rare example of a building failure in the career of Henry Trost: the storm of August 7, 1903, blew the roof off the building, requiring in a repair costing $1,336.71, or more than ten per cent of the cost of the original structure.

Prepared for the El Paso Public Library by Lloyd C. and June F. Engelbrecht under a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, 1990.