ARC was opened in 1992. The initials originally stood for Academic Residence Community since students were required to have a certain GPA in order to live in ARC. In the fall of 2007, it became an all female residence hall. The name now refers to Longwood’s patron saint, Joan of ARC.
BARLOW BUILDING
This building opened as the laundry in October of 1914. The first floor was remodeled in 1966 and used for a dance studio, and the second floor was remodeled in 1968 for use by the physical education department. The building and adjacent tennis courts and field were named in honor of Miss Mary Belle Barlow who taught physical education at the college from 1919 until 1949. She was chair of the department for 40 years. Today, Barlow Hall is home to the Registrar’s office.
BEDFORD HALL (Art Building)
This building, home to the Department of Art, opened in the summer of 1970 and was named for Miss Virginia Bedford who taught art at the college from 1928 until 1972. She was chair of the department from 1942 until 1970. Studios provide well-equipped space for graphic design, painting, art history, photography, pottery, crafts, art education, drawing, and printmaking. Bedford Auditorium, located in Bedford Hall, seats 154.
BLACKWELL
Blackwell was opened in 1920 as the dining hall. It was named in the mid to late 1970s in memory of Dr. Herbert R. Blackwell, professor of English and dean of the college.
With the reconstruction of the new Dorrill Dining Hall, Blackwell is no longer used for dining and will be renovated for other campus activities.
BRISTOW BUILDING (Service Building)
Bristow was opened in 1973. This building was named for Mr. R. C. Bristow who was the superintendent of buildings and grounds from 1925 until 1929. The building was dedicated on Founders Day, April 6, 1974 and houses Facilities Management and Materiel Management (Purchasing).
The science building was opened in January 2006. On December 7, 2007, it was named in honor of the Honorable John H. Chichester and his wife, Karen Williams Chichester, ‘74. The 70,822-square-foot facility is home to the Department of Natural Sciences, which includes majors in biology, chemistry, and physics and minors in earth science, environmental studies, and geography. The center includes 23 classrooms and laboratories, 47 faculty offices and additional research space for both undergraduate and graduate research projects. The new building features a state-of-the-art, climate-controlled environment, with safety ventilation systems and hazardous materials safeguards along with a high-tech infrastructure for classrooms, laboratories, and distance learning facilities. A greenhouse and herbarium, housing the world’s largest collection of native Virginia plant specimens, are located on the roof.
COX HALL
This dormitory opened in November 1963 and was dedicated on March 21, 1964, and named in honor of Miss Mary W. Cox, dean of women from 1915 from 1944. Cox Hall was completely renovated in 2006-07 and now features elevators, air conditioning, bathrooms with ceramic tile and new fixtures, contemporary study rooms with modern amenities, and common areas with outside terraces.
COYNER HALL
Coyner opened in 1972 as the home economics department building. It was named in November of 1969 in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Boyd Coyner. Mr. Coyner taught education courses at the college for 42 years. Mrs. Ruth Coyner supervised student teachers for five years, was the national president of the Longwood Alumnae in 1925 and 1926, and became alumnae executive secretary in 1938 and served in that capacity for 18 years. Today, Coyner Hall houses the division of Information and Instructional Technology Service and the campus computing center. Also located here are the Help Desk, Communications Center, servers for campus networking, and the Resident Technology Advisor office, which oversees the technology assistance that is offered in every residence hall.
CRAFTS HOUSE
The Crafts House opened during the 1958-59 session as the Home Management House. The building was dedicated on March 18, 1967 and named in honor of Mrs. Worthy Johnson Crafts who taught home economics at the college and introduced home economics as an elective in 1907. In 1989, the house was renovated and converted to serve as the Office of Admissions and Visitor Center.
CUNNINGHAM RESIDENCE HALL
These dormitories were named for Dr. John A. Cunningham who was president of the college from 1887 until 1897. Known today as “The Cunninghams,” (North, 1928; Main, 1939; and South Cunningham, 1958) this large residence hall is co-educational, providing upper-class residential facilities arranged in two-room suites. Five study lounges are included, as well as laundry facilities on all floors of Main and South. Community options include two fraternity floors, an International Studies Hall and GLOBE Theatre Hall.
CURRY HALL
This high-rise residence hall opened in the fall of 1969 and was dedicated on March 21, 1970. Dr. Jabez L. Monroe Curry was the president of the first Board of Trustees for the college beginning in 1884. The hall was built in tandem with its next-door neighbor, Frazer Hall.
One of the more popular buildings on campus, the Dorrill Dining Hall was named in honor of Longwood's 23rd president, Dr. William F. Dorrill who served from 1988 to 1996. The two- story, 60,000-square-foot multi-purpose facility, located across from the Lankford Student Union, features a curved, colonnaded portico overlooking Iler Field and is the first building on campus to utilize geothermal heating and cooling. The flexible interior design provides space for banquets, meetings, and special events along with a Grand Dining Room seating 500 and an arcade seating an additional 700. Dining services, provided by Aramark, offer a wide range of food, beverage and dietary selections that have consistently received high satisfaction ratings from students. The Department of Public Safety, Campus Police, and Visitor Information Center are located on the ground level near the parking garage.
FRAZER HALL
A companion to Curry Hall, Frazer opened in 1970 and was dedicated on March 20, 1971. The Board of Visitors agreed upon the name in August 1969. Dr. Robert Frazer was president of the college from 1897 until 1902.
FRENCH HALL
This building was originally the student union building and opened in December 1925. There was a gym on the first floor, student activities on the second and third floors, and dorms on the fourth floor. Two floors were used before the official opening because the fire of 1924 had destroyed the dining area and some of the dorm space in the main building. The Board named the building as a result of an action on May 7, 1968, and the dedication was made on Founders Day, 1969. Mrs. Raymond H. French taught chemistry at the college from 1929 until 1964. French Hall is under renovation and will be used for support services.
GRAHAM BUILDING
This building opened the summer of 1962 and named in honor of Mrs. Samuel L. Graham who was the business manager at the college for 26 years. Today, the Graham Building houses Printing Services and the Parking Office.
GRAINGER HALL
This building opened in 1903 and was later named for Mrs. James M. Grainger and dedicated on March 18, 1967. Mrs. Grainger taught English literature at the college beginning on 1910 and was head of the department from 1912 until 1950. The building was demolished after the fire of 2001 and rebuilt in 2003 with the exterior appearing identical to the original building. Grainger Hall is the new home of English and Modern Languages and features state-of-art computer classrooms, wireless Internet access, and a digitally based language laboratory.
The library opened in March 25, 1991 and was named on September 9, 2004 in honor of Dr. Janet D. Greenwood, president from 1981 to 1987. The Longwood learning environment is enriched by the Greenwood Library that holds 245,000 book titles, 2,100 print journal subscriptions, and some 100 electronic data bases including access to 11,000 full-text electronic journals and provides integrated technology for information retrieval from libraries throughout the world, as well as satellite reception of foreign programs and web access.
The multi-faceted Health and Fitness Center opened in August 2007. Located on Main Street, adjacent to Frazer Residence Hall, the 74,683-square-foot, two-and-a-half story facility features a wide range of amenities including an indoor track, basketball and racquetball courts, a climbing wall, work-out rooms, juice bar, and the latest weight, exercise and training equipment. The building received a Gold Certification Rating in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) from the U.S. Green Building Council.
HINER HALL
This building was originally called the Training School and opened in 1913. The building was remodeled and renamed in 1962 for Miss Mary Clay Hiner and Miss Winnie Hiner. Miss Mary Hiner taught English at the college from 1905 until 1947. Miss Winnie Hiner was the treasurer of the college from 1924 until 1955. The building was completely remodeled, then reopened on September 17, 1998 as the home of the College of Business and Economics.
Hiner Auditorium, located on the top floor, seats 150 and is designed to accommodate each student at instructional tables, which are fully wired for use of laptop computers. With additional perimeter seating the room is capable of holding up to 200 persons for occasional use.
HULL EDUCATION CENTER
The Hull Education Center was opened in 1996 as the home of the College of Education and Human Services and the Department of Education and the Department of Social Work. On May 11, 1997, it was named in honor of Dr. Duvahl Ridgway-Hull, Class of 1933 and Mr. Andrew Hull. Dr. Hull served on the first Board of Visitors and was the first female Rector of the Board. Mr. Hull served as President of the Longwood University Foundation Board of Directors. Their support and generosity established the Hull Scholars Program. Orr Auditorium, located in Hull Education Center, seats 148 and is fully equipped with sound and projection capabilities.
This building opened in the fall of 1962 as Iler Gymnasium and was named in honor of Miss Olive Theresa Iler who taught physical education at the college from 1925 until 1966 and was chair of the department for 20 years. Today, Iler Hall is home to the Department of Environmental Health and Safety.
JARMAN HALL (Auditorium)
This building was opened as an auditorium and music building in the fall of 1951 and named for Dr. Joseph L. Jarman, president of the college from 1902 until 1946. Home to the university's theatre department, Jarman Hall includes a 1,065-seat auditorium for special events, theatrical and musical productions, public lectures, and other activities.
JEFFERS AUDITORIUM
This building was completed during the summer of 1968 and was named for Dr. George W. Jeffers who taught biology at the college from 1926 until 1968. He was also chair of the department for many years.
Lancaster Hall was the original college library, which opened on November 9, 1939 and was later named in 1962 for Dr. Dabney S. Lancaster, president of the college from 1946 until 1955. The classic design with its distinctive columns was constructed by the Works Project Administration (WPA) under the Roosevelt Administration and a bronze plaque near the front reads “Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, President of the United States (and) Harold L. Ickes, Administrator of Public Works, Library 1939.” Lancaster Hall is the only remaining building in Farmville constructed as a WPA project under President Roosevelt. The original heating plant, also a WPA project, was replaced by a new, more efficient facility in 2010. Today, Lancaster Hall houses the President’s Office and the offices of Administration and Finance, Student Affairs, and University Advancement.
Lankford opened in September of 1967 and was named in honor of Dr. Francis G. Lankford Jr., president of the college from 1955 until 1965. Located on Brock Commons across from the Dorrill Dining Hall, Lankford features a wide range of services and diversions for students. On the ground floor is the Lankford Café providing food and beverages and, on some evenings, live entertainment. Recreational opportunities include a bowling alley, ping-pong/pool tables, and arcade/video games. The campus Post Office is also located on this floor, as are the offices for student publications including The Rotunda. On the upper level is the ballroom, a reception area used for speakers and dances along with offices for the Student Union Board, SGA, and Greek Affairs. Outdoors, Lankford Mall is the site of many student activities, such as outdoor concerts, movies, Oktoberfest, and Spring Weekend.
McCORKLE WING
This addition to Stevens Science Building was completed the summer of 1968. The dedication was on March 21, 1969. Thomas A. McCorkle taught chemistry and physics at the college from 1922 until 1960. He was also chair of the department from 1922 until 1958. With the opening of the Chichester Science Center in 2006, McCorkle will be renovated for future educational use.
RUFFNER HALL
Longwood’s signature building, Ruffner Hall with its beautiful Rotunda, was rededicated on April 23, 2005 and replicates the university’s most beloved building, dating to the 1880s, which burned on April 24, 2001 while undergoing a $12 million renovation. Named for Dr. William Henry Ruffner, the first president of the college who served from 1884 until 1887, it was used originally for offices and student residence housing. The original eight paintings on the interior of the Rotunda dome, created in 1905 by the Italian-born artist Eugene D. Monfalcone of Richmond, have been returned to the dome following an extensive restoration that was underway prior to the fire. The historic Joan of Arc statue, known affectionately as “Joanie on the Stony” was also restored recently and returned to its place of honor on the main floor beneath the Rotunda. The bigger- than-life sculpture is a reproduction of the famous 1870 original created by French sculptor Henri-Michel-Antoine Chapu. The statue was a gift of the Class of 1914 and symbolizes Joan of Arc as the patron saint of Longwood. Ruffner Hall was reconstructed in the classic style based on the original blueprints and drawings from the state archives in Richmond. The 83,143-square-foot building houses 22 classrooms, four academic departments and the offices of the vice president for academic affairs and the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
The Rotunda Dome
The decoration on the interior of the Rotunda dome was created in 1905 by the Italian-born artist Eugene D. Monfalcone of Richmond. Its four large panels depict classically draped young women in balustraded garden settings as allegories for Study and Meditation, Teaching, Recreation, and Rest, the four components of the State Female Normal School's educational training. Separating these images are smaller portraits of four men who, directly or indirectly, figured prominently in the establishment of the Normal School in Farmville: Thomas Jefferson and Horace Mann, who devised the rationale for public education and the educational philosophy of the school; Jabez Lamar Monroe Curry, who drafted the bill establishing the Normal School and helped to secure supplementary private funding; and William Henry Ruffner, Virginia's first State Superintendent of Instruction and later the first principal of the Normal School. These oil paintings on canvas were restored by Page Conservation, Inc., of Washington, D.C., and were installed in the new Rotunda dome in 2005.
SOUTH RUFFNER HALL
This residence hall was built around 1900 and contained resident rooms and offices. Recently renovated, South Ruffner is single-sex by floors and consists of single and double rooms with community baths. Rooms vary in size. Each floor has a study room. The hallways in South Ruffner are painted vibrant colors making it a very welcoming place to live. South Ruffner is part of the Colonnades Complex that includes French, Tabb, and South Tabb.
SOUTH TABB HALL
The infirmary was opened on the first floor of South Tabb in the fall of 1912 and served many generations of students. Over the years, student health services operated out of several campus locations and are now housed in the new Health and Fitness Center.
STEVENS HALL
Stevens was named in 1951 and was dedicated on October 20, 1951. Miss Edith Stevens taught biology at the college from 1928 until 1945, when she died. Stevens Hall housed the science department until January 2006 when the new state-of-the-art Chichester Science Center was opened. It will be renovated for future educational use.
STUBBS HALL
Stubbs Hall was completed in the summer of 1966 and named in honor of Miss Florence H. Stubbs who taught sociology at the college from 1917 until 1954. She originated the plans for the first Founders Day observance on March 7, 1922. Stubbs Residence Hall is an all-female hall and home to Longwood's 12 national sorority chapters. The four floors of Stubbs Hall provide suite-style living in double or triple occupancy rooms with similar floor plans to Curry and Frazer. Most sororities have a main chapter room area surrounded by residence space for 18 to 20 sorority members. On the first floor off of the lobby is the Sisterhood Room. This room serves as a tribute to Longwood's sororities.
TABB HALL
The old section of Tabb opened in 1926 and the new section opened in 1951. The building was named in honor of Miss Jennie M. Tabb who worked at the college from 1904 to 1934 as the secretary to the president and registrar. Today, Tabb Hall is a first year co-educational residence facility and consists of double occupancy rooms. Each floor has a male and female community bathroom. Tabb is part of the Colonnades Complex, which includes French, South Tabb, and South Ruffner.
WHEELER HALL
This building opened in the spring of 1962. The name was selected before construction began in the spring of 1959. The dedication was held on October 2, 1962. Miss Leola Wheeler taught speech at the college from 1911 until 1949. Wheeler was completely renovated in 2006-07 and reopened in August 2007 and now features elevators, air conditioning, bathrooms with ceramic tile and new fixtures, contemporary study rooms with modern amenities, and common areas with outside terraces.
WILLETT HALL (Physical Education Building)
Originally known as Lancer Hall, the building opened in the fall of 1980 and was dedicated on October 25. The name, Lancer Hall, was selected by the student body, faculty and alumni and approved the Board in May of 1980. The Lancer is Longwood’s sports mascot and is symbolic of the British cavalry regiments of the 18th and 19th centuries, e.g., “The Queen’s Own Lancers.” Lancer Hall was renamed Willett Hall on September 9, 2004 in honor of Dr. Henry I. Willett, Jr., president from 1967 to1981. Located on Brock Commons. Willett Hall is a health, physical education, and recreation complex and includes a newly-renovated gymnasium with 1,720 seats; a newly-equipped weight-training room; a 25-meter pool with a one-meter board, underwater lighting and observation window; a 350-seat natatorium; a modern dance studio with a floating floor and staging capacity; and a laboratory for the study of human performance as it relates to exercise, sports, health, and the arts. A 3,000-square foot addition to Willett Hall houses a new Sports Medicine/Rehabilitation facility for the Health, Recreation and Kinesiology programs
WYGAL HALL (Music Building)
This building opened in the summer of 1968 and was dedicated on March 19, 1971. Dr. Fred O. Wygal was acting president of the college from 1962 until 1963 and in 1967. The Molnar Recital Hall (auditorium) seats 196 and features excellent acoustics eliminating the need for microphones. All seats are cushioned for comfort
WYNNE HALL
The curiously circular campus school building (Wynne) opened in September of 1970 and was dedicated on March 19, 1971. Dr. John P. Wynne taught education at the college from 1924 until 1959 and was chair of the department and director of teacher education. The Campus School was closed in 1982. Wynne Hall was subsequently used as “swing” space while other buildings were being renovated and was eventually demolished in 2006 as part of the university’s master plan to utilize the area for future purposes.
OTHER FACILITIES
FORMER ALUMNI HOUSE: 608 HIGH STREET
The house at 608 High Street, originally built in 1840, was purchased by Longwood in 1908 and served as the official home for Longwood presidents and their families for many years. The Willett family moved out of the house in 1969, when Longwood House was restored and became the official residence for the president. The Alumni Association moved into the house in 1969. It was renamed the Alumni House and operated as a guesthouse until around 2000. In 2006 the Longwood Real Estate Foundation began operating the house as the Longwood Bed & Breakfast.
Dedicated on September 21, 2007, Beale Plaza was created through memorial gifts and was named in honor of Lynne O’Steen Beale, ’74. It replaced the Blackwell Plaza area that was destroyed with the demolition of Grainger and Ruffner following the Great Fire of 2001. The Sesquicentennial Fountain given in 1989 by the student body to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the founding of Longwood University remains as a special feature of Beale Plaza.
BROCK COMMONS
Brock Commons, a beautiful pedestrian promenade named after benefactors Macon and Joan Brock (Class of 1964), was officially opened on April 24, 2004. Created through a gift from Macon and Joan Brock, Brock Commons has become the central focal point for Longwood, uniting the campus community around a safe, pedestrian-friendly environment, while creating an outdoor, collegial ambiance for students, faculty, staff, and visitors
HARDY HOUSE
The Hardy House was a gift/purchase between the Longwood University Foundation and Helen Wiley Hardy Wheat and her family. The house had been the residence of Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Hardy, Mrs. Wheat’s parents. Today, the Hardy House is home to the auditor and Office of Conferences and Scheduling. Constructed in 1840, the Hardy house is the best example of federal style architecture in Farmville.
LONGWOOD ESTATE
The house and grounds, known as the Longwood Estate, were opened as a recreational center for the college in October of 1929. Longwood House became the official residence of the college president when Dr. Willett and his family assumed residency in 1969. Today Longwood House is the home of Longwood President Patricia P. Cormier and First Gent Dr. Raymond Cormier. The Longwood Estate includes a nine-hole golf course and a new complex of athletic fields for field hockey, lacrosse, and soccer.
CAMPUS-MANAGED APARTMENT COMMUNITIES
LANCER PARK & LONGWOOD VILLAGE
Lancer Park, purchased by the Longwood Real Estate Foundation in October 2005, is operated as a Longwood-managed residential community. Longwood Village was purchased by the Longwood Real Estate Foundation in 2006 and became a Longwood- managed residential community in August 2007. Some of the amenities and features of the apartments are private bedrooms (some with private baths), full kitchens (most with dishwashers), washer/dryer units, large living areas, high-speed Internet, and cable television.
LONGWOOD LANDINGS
Longwood Landings at Mid-Town Square, which opened in August 2006, is a residential village that includes four, four-story buildings with the top three floors dedicated to student housing and the ground floor devoted to leased retail space. Longwood students occupy 96 four-bedroom and 24-single-bedroom apartments. Retailers include Barnes & Noble, which operates Longwood’s bookstore and includes a Starbucks Café. Longwood Landings was built through the Longwood Real Estate Foundation.
(Revised 5 January 2009)
