Did you know? 5 facts about Anderson Hall

Posted January 12, 2023

Anderson Hall

It’s one of the most iconic silhouettes on campus, standing proudly above the K-State skyline. It represents more than 100 years of university history and tradition, but even as such a familiar, well-known landmark, there are still some surprises to be found in Anderson Hall’s past. 

In the upcoming spring 2023 issue of the K-State Alumni Association’s member-exclusive K-Stater magazine, we asked Cliff Hight, department head of K-State's Morse Department of Special Collections, to share more about the behind-the-scenes history of Anderson Hall. Here’s a preview of five of our favorite facts, and be sure to look for the full-length article in the K-Stater soon!

1. A building of many names

You may already know that Anderson Hall’s name honors John Alexander Anderson, the university’s second president (1873-1879). The building was originally known as the Practical Agriculture Building or the Main College Building before being named Anderson Hall in 1902. It has been used for instruction in numerous subjects, offices for administration and academic departments, and a library, among many other uses. The president’s office has been in the building since 1879.

2. Starting a tradition

Local builder Jacob Winne was involved with the stonework on the Anderson Hall project, along with three earlier campus buildings. He continued using native cottonwood limestone, establishing an aesthetic consistency for campus that remains to this day.

3. Buried treasure

Faculty voted in May 1881 for some historical college records to be buried under the first floor vault in a sealed case with hopes that it would be “resurrected by some curious antiquary, a thousand years hence.”

4. For whom the Anderson Hall bell tolls

The original 513-pound bell that was installed in the Bluemont College building in 1861 was moved to Anderson Hall in 1882. The college janitor or other workers rang the bell for various reasons into the 1960s. In 1965, the storied bell was retired from active duty and replaced with an electronic carillon. The bell remained in the tower until 1995, when it was moved to present-day Holen Courtyard to the west of Bluemont Hall.

5. A near disaster

On one early August morning in 1993, lightning nearly left Anderson Hall in ruins. A 3:45 a.m. lightning strike blew off the south tower’s four-foot lightning rod and started blazing. The heat triggered the sprinkler system on the east side of the second floor, which thankfully minimized the spread of flames. The fire and resulting water damage, though, caused $1.25 million (over $2.5 million today) in damage to the building.

Anderson Hall

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