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Prototype Page Old Main Image courtesy of the Association for the Preservation 0f Historic Coles County

(Building Constructed 1896-1899)
The Gothic Revival style of Old Main is quite familiar to many residents, not only because it has dominated the Charleston cityscape for over a century, but also because similar structures can be seen at both Carbondale and Normal, and at a variety of other colleges and universities around the Midwest.

Structurally the appearance of Old Main has remained essentially unchanged since its construction, however the setting of the building has changed markedly over the past century.

The post card view of Main on the left below, dated 1911, depicts the area in front of the building as open and overall quite uncluttered with just a small flower garden in the center of the oval circular drive in front of the building. The 1940's post card view of the building, on the right below, presents a rather different view, with the front of the building shrouded in ivy, and a set of stone pillars, added prior to 1920, flanking the entryway to the building. Photographs of the same site in the 1940's and early 50's show that the circular drive was essentially unchanged, except that it was being used as a parking area for automobiles.

The final view of the building, below the two postcards, presents a rather different aspect. Lincoln Avenuet was converted into a four lane highway in the early 1960's, leading to the removal of the circular drive. Then in 1999, in anticipation of the University Centennial, the paved court, the more extensive stonework and the grilled gateway were added.

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(Last Modified 2/10/06)