Giddings Hall, Georgetown College
United States historic place From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Giddings Hall, originally called Recitation Hall, is a Greek Revival building located on the campus of Georgetown College in Scott County, Kentucky. Georgetown was the first Baptist college founded west of the Allegheny Mountains,[2][3] and Giddings Hall was the first permanent structure constructed after the college was formed.[2][3] The building is named after Rockwood Giddings, the third president of the school.[2] The property was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on February 6, 1973.[1]
Giddings Hall, Georgetown College | |
 | |
   | |
| Location | Georgetown, Kentucky |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 38°12′25″N 84°33′17″W |
| Built | 1839 |
| Architect | J. E. Farnam |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000836 [1] |
| Added to NRHP | February 6, 1973 |
In 1829, the Kentucky Legislature chartered the Kentucky Baptist Education Society with the purpose of establishing a Baptist college in the state. The town of Georgetown was selected for the site of the school because the community agreed to raise $20,000 and to donate the assets of Rittenhouse Academy, a failed land grant school in the town that had recently closed.[2]
In 1839, Rev. Rockwood Giddings became the third president of the college. During his tenure as president, Giddings began construction on Recitation Hall, the first permanent building for the school.[2]
College tradition states that Jonathan E. Farnam, professor of mathematics, drew the original plans for the building, and that architect A.T. Rice drew the final design. A local African-American mason laid the foundation, and a local brickmason named A.L. White built the walls.[3]
The structure is currently used as the main administrative building for the campus. Previously, rooms in the building have been used as a chapel, a library, classrooms, and a theater.[3]
Giddings Hall is a two-story rectangular temple-style Greek Revival brick building situated at a prominent central campus location at the head of Giddings Circle.[3]
The building has four levels, including a stone basement and a deep attic. The brick is laid in Flemish bond on all four sides, and wide pilasters delineate the bays on all facades. The central front facade is a two-story pedimented portico with six brick graduated columns with Ionic capitals.[3] The college's early association with Elijah Craig, who historically is linked to inventing Bourbon whiskey, has fueled a local legend claiming that "a quart of bourbon reposes under each of the six Ionic columns of the portico".[4][5]
The double windows and Italianate style hoodmolds were added in 1879 when Pawling Hall was constructed.[3]
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