Ladies Hall
This three story brick building was not just a dormitory for 100 female students, it was also a hub for many collegiate activities and social events.The opening social for the school year was held at the Ladies Hall, as were events such as the freshman and sophomore "taffy pull," and the Aelioian and L. L. S. joint reception for the gentlemen's societies. In Terrell’s freshman year "the College Faculty took tea at the Ladies Hall and after tea all repaired to the parlor for a social until half-past seven. The students boarding at the Hall were thus afforded an opportunity of becoming acquainted with their teachers and all regard this as one of the pleasantest events of the year" (Oberlin Review, November 20, 1880).
In 1880, members of the community were invited to Ladies Hall when President Fairchild hosted a reception
Ladies Hall was also where Terrell learned valuable lessons about organizing to effect change, including making compelling public appeals and fundraising.to give the people an opportunity to get acquainted and bring together the residents of the town with the college faculty and their wives. He referred to the time when all of the people attended one church and the college faculty did the preaching. In the early days he knew the names and ages of every man woman and child in the town. Now there are six churches and the people have fewer opportunities to meet and become acquainted (Oberlin Weekly News, December 24, 1880, page 3, column 5).
Despite getting new carpet and wallpaper in the summer of 1879, the state of the reception room in Ladies Hall was such that members of both societies that met there passed resolutions making the case for a new building:
The great need of new quarters will be felt we are sure by all who of late years have attempted to wax eloquent in the present society room. It is situated in the Ladies Hall where the meetings are necessarily liable to disturbance. It is small so small that the girls of the societies are obliged to look elsewhere for accommodation for union meeting at great inconvenience both to themselves and to others. It is unpleasant. We sigh at the thought of the members we have missed the eloquence we have lost the enthusiasm which might have been and was not because of the gloominess of the surroundings. We do not know what the room may have been in the days of its glory but certainly in its present condition it is too bare and dilapidated to be other than depressing. (Oberlin Review, November 27, 1879)
The societies campaigned actively for contributions and Terrell was a member of the committee, appointed by the Aelioian Society; Adelia Field Johnston donated $100 to the cause and the Musical Union contributed the proceeds from one of its concerts to the fund. The fruit of their efforts was realized three years later when the College commenced the groundwork for the building that would be known as Sturges Hall. The Oberlin Review reported on November 4, 1882 that “bricks are now being hauled for the new ladies’ society building. The ladies have raised their half [$3,000] of the necessary funds.”
