Oklahoma State's Old Central

"Old Central" is the oldest building on the Oklahoma State University campus in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Originally built in 1894, it was the first permanent building on the Oklahoma A&M campus. Old Central's bell clapper once served as a traveling trophy in the Bedlam Series athletics rivalry between Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma. The new "Bedlam Bell" is a crystal trophy modeled after Old Central's bell and is awarded to the winner of each individual athletics contest in addition to the overall series winner for each year. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (512x768, 132 KB) Licensing File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (512x768, 132 KB) Licensing File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Oklahoma State University Logo The Oklahoma State University System comprises of five educational instututes across Oklahoma. ... Stillwater is a city located in Payne County, Oklahoma. ... The Bedlam Series Oklahoma State Cowboys Oklahoma Sooners // The Bedlam Series History The Bedlam Series refers to the athletics rivalry between the University of Oklahoma Sooners and the Oklahoma State University Cowboys, of the Big 12 Conferences South Division. ... Oklahoma State University Logo The Oklahoma State University System comprises of five educational instututes across Oklahoma. ... The University of Oklahoma (OU) is an institution of higher learning located in Oklahoma. ...

Construction, Condemnation, & Restoration

The construction contract for Old Central was awarded on June 20, 1893. Many students, wanting their own building as soon as possible, assisted the fifty-man construction crew. Students received ten cents per hour for menial jobs, such as carrying bricks and water to the masons. June 20 is the 171st day of the year (172nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 194 days remaining. ... 1893 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

Dedication ceremonies were held on June 15, 1894. Classes began in the “"ultra-modern" structure on September 15th, with 144 students in attendance. The College Building, as it was originally known, was the only permanent campus building until 1900. The Chemistry Department, which had occupied the basement, moved into a new building west of "The College." June 15 is the 166th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (167th in leap years), with 199 days remaining. ... 1894 (MDCCCXCIV) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1900 (MCM) is a common year starting on Monday. ...

Shifting red permian clay soil and Old Central's native sandstone foundation proved to be an unfortunate combination. The shifting clay movement against the soft sandstone foundation caused serious structural cracks. In 1914 two large tie-rods were installed in an effort to stabilize the building. Condemnation of Old Central became official in 1925, but space on campus was badly needed; so the building continued to be used until early 1927 when falling plaster slightly injured a student. 1914 (MCMXIV) is a common year starting on Thursday. ... 1925 (MCMXXV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1927 (MCMXXVII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Major work in 1930 put the building back into use until 1969 when the last regular classes were held. Oklahoma State University leased Old Central to the Oklahoma Historical Society in July 1971; the building was also placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Exterior restoration which began in 1973, was completed in 1989 with the installation of a metal shingle roof to duplicate the original roofing. 1930 (MCMXXX) is a common year starting on Wednesday. ... 1969 (MCMLXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday For other uses, see Number 1969. ... Look up July in Wiktionary, the free dictionary July is the seventh month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) is a common year starting on Friday (click for link to calendar). ... The National Register of Historic Places is the USAs official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects worthy of preservation. ... 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ... 1989 (MCMLXXXIX in Roman) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Oklahoma Museum of Higher Education

To preserve history and artifacts of higher education in Oklahoma from Oklahoma/Indian Territorial era to present. Housed in Old Central, the first permanent building on the Oklahoma State University campus. Official language(s) None Capital Oklahoma City Largest city Oklahoma City Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 20th 181,196 km² 355 km 645 km 1. ...

Higher education began in Indian Territory more than a quarter century before Oklahoma became a state in 1907. Almon C. Bacone established Indian University in 1880 as a Baptist mission school. The University granted its first bachelor degrees in 1883. Hope Mission, adjacent to the Cherokee Female Seminary in Tahlequah, served as the University's first home. The University moved to its present location northeast of Muskogee in 1885. It was renamed Bacone College in honor of its founder in 1910. Indian Territory in 1836 Indian Territory in 1891 Indian Territory, also known as Indian Country, Indian territory or the Indian territories, was the land set aside within the United States for the use of American Indians (Native Americans). The general borders were set by the Indian Intercourse Act of 1834. ... 1907 (MCMVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... 1880 (MDCCCLXXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... A Baptist is a member of a Baptist church. ... 1883 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Tahlequah is a city located in Cherokee County, Oklahoma. ... Muskogee is a city located in Muskogee County, Oklahoma. ... 1885 (MDCCCLXXXV) is a common year starting on Thursday. ... -1...

When the first Territorial Legislature convened on August 28, 1890 Governor George W. Steele called for the creation of an agricultural experiment station. A station was usually part of an agricultural college, but the governor vetoed the first college bill. August 28 is the 240th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (241st in leap years), with 125 days remaining. ... 1890 (MDCCCXC) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar). ...

On December 19, 1890, the legislature approved the creation of Oklahoma Territorial University, now the University of Oklahoma, to be located at the south edge of Norman. It was to provide advanced education for professionals. December 19 is the 353rd day of the year (354th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1890 (MDCCCXC) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar). ... The University of Oklahoma (OU) is an institution of higher learning located in Oklahoma. ... Bizzel Library, University of Oklahoma Norman is a major city located in Cleveland County, Oklahoma and is part of the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area. ...

East of Norman, High Gate Methodist College (girls only) began classes in September, 1890. Classes for the territorial university did not begin until September, 1892. Both institutions occupied their first permanent buildings in 1893; but as tuition-free Oklahoma Territorial University became established, High Gate ceased to exist. Look up September in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... 1890 (MDCCCXC) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar). ... Look up September in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... 1892 (MDCCCXCII) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1893 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

December 24, 1890, the legislature finally gained approval for Oklahoma Territorial Agricultural and Mechanical College, now Oklahoma State University, and Oklahoma Territorial Normal School, now the University of Central Oklahoma. The legislation stated that the normal school was to be located on the east side of Edmond. It specified that the “"Land-Grant" college was to be within Payne County. Such an ambiguous description created rivalry between towns within the county. Stillwater ultimately won the college. December 24 is the 358th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (359th in leap years). ... 1890 (MDCCCXC) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar). ... The University of Central Oklahoma, located in Edmond, Oklahoma (a suburb north of Oklahoma City), is the third largest university in the state with over 14,000 full time students. ... Edmond is a rapidly growing suburban city located in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma in the central part of the state. ... Payne County is a county located in the state of Oklahoma. ... Stillwater is a city located in Payne County, Oklahoma. ...

The Morrill Act of 1862 created the land-grant college system. These colleges had a mandate to provide both a liberal and practical education. The Morrill Act made education available to the working class.

Each state and territory was to have at least one land-grant college. The college in Stillwater was established under the first Morrill Act. A second Morrill Act in 1890 prepared the way for Colored Agricultural and Normal University at Langston (about 20 miles southwest of Stillwater) in 1898. Langston is a town located in Logan County, Oklahoma. ... 1898 (MDCCCXCVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

External links

• Oklahoma Museum of Higher Education