You’ve probably walked through the doors of Denison hundreds–even thousands–of times, so you may feel certain that you know the ins and outs of the campus’ buildings. But did you know that one was a stop on the Underground Railroad? Or that another was gutted by fire? One is even a gateway to the heavens. See if you can name the buildings to which these doors belong–and pick up a little Denison history along the way.
An entrance to the first fraternity to be built on The Hill as part of the 1925 plan for a Fraternity Row. Fair warning: It’s not the front door. That would be too easy.
This rustic door opens to a one-room, out-of-the-way structure, built by some very ecologically minded students who crafted the walls with spent bottles and cans instead of bricks and siding.
This building had a telescope tower–complete with a screech owl nest–until 1943 when the tower was torn down. Over the years, the buidling has served as a private residence and a girls’ dormitory. Today, 10 honor students call it home.
This building has offered the most heavenly view on the Hill for 100 years.
Okay, so it isn’t a door to a building, but it’s a door just the same. It gobbles up sweaty towels (although we’re not sure exactly when sweat became a biohazard) on their way to a washing.
Long ago, residents of this West Quad building stored their firewood here. The fireplace has been dormant for decades, however, thanks to fire codes and radiated heat.
In its pre-Denison life, this building was a bull-pen and chicken coop. The night after it was dedicated, its interior was destroyed by fire. It was rebuilt and later served as the campus pub until the Roost came along.
Its name, which means “House of Delight,” came from the church where Denison’s 10th president, Emory Hunt, was married. Each year, roughly 5,000 prospective Denisonians apply within.
This detached shed is partner to a well-known structure built in 1834. The first meeting of the Ohio Anti-Slavery Society was held in that building, and it was also a stop on the Underground Railroad.
Believe it or not, this door is the barrier between the great outdoors and student housing. Inside is a mish-mash of spaces, including a costume closet, a greenhouse, and an art gallery–all for the benefit of the building’s inhabitants.
You have to trek about a quarter mile north of campus to pass through this door. Inside there’s plenty of lab space and a telescope. Outside there’s a 350-acre living laboratory complete with bats, flying squirrels, deer, fox, and more than 100 species of birds.
This building was erected in 1929 and named in honor of a female student from the Class of 1920 who died of tuberculosis.