The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-12-15
Handsome 100000 Struc-
turc is Now Ready for /
Students.
LOCATION IS ACCESSIBLE.
Interior is Well Equipped
With Airy Rooms and
Auditorium.

During the month of May, 1916, the.
contract was let by the State Board
Of Control. for the erection of new
building for the Fairmont State Nor.
NAL school. the legislature converting
previous TO that date, having appfos;
priatcd sum for that purpose and
the ground also having previously
been secured. Today sees the compile.
ton of the editice which is perhaps
the handsomcst single building owned
by the state. that houses one of the
states institutions of learning. ~
approximately 100000 has been ex.l
pended In the erection of the build.l
ing. the purchase Of the site on which.
1t is built, the purchase OF furniture
and equipment and in improvements to
the grounds. The building now stands
as monument to the progressivenesa
OF the State of West Virginia.
The building, which is of classic
style. stands in the centre Of plot
OF ground, comprising eighteen and
one-half acres. The elevation on which
the structure stands is considerable
and the view obtained of the surround.
ing country is magnificent. The emin:
ence makes it possible for the edifce
to be viewed to the very best advan.i
, tage from many points throughout
the city and country around. The 10.
cation is easy of access from the troll
ley lines and broad driveways LEADING
to and encircling the building, makes
the approach TO the building an ideal
one.
The building is constructed OF light;
buff brick trimmed with limestoneand
terra Gotta, the dimensions being 26i
feet long by Go feet wide and three
stories high. The main adornment to
an otherwise conservative structure
are the eight massive Ionic columns.
cut from Indiana limestone which
gives the building its classic appear
ance and affords practically its sole
ornamentatiOn. Massive stone steps,
lead from the driveway to the main
entrance Of the building and the inter.
ior Is reached through large double
doorways which lead directly into the
second floor corridors. u
The interior Is finished in polished
quartered sawed oak. The corridors,
which are noticeable feature owing
to their size, have floors of compost
ton while the floors of the class rooms
laboratories. cts, are OF hard wood nice
ly finished. st
The structure is heated by spill.
steam system having both direct and.
indirect radiation. This system also
supplies the ventilation for the build
ing.
a feature of the building is the fina.
aut!ortium. which extends through the:
two lower stories, having a pit and
gallery, which combined seats approxi.
matcly 500 persons. A modernly equip.
ped stage is built into the auditorium.
Access 10 the pit of the auditorium IL
had from the front OF the building by:
an entrance through the basement
story at the east end, entrance to the,
gallery is obtained through the first
or main story of the building. Thetau
ditoriUm is fitted with mahogany I'm.
ished opera chairs. y.
In addition to the auditorium the
building contains twenty or more large
airy and splendidly lighted class
rooms, magnifcently equipped rhysi
cal and chemical laboratories, society
halls, department for Domestic sci.
ence, domestic art, manual training,
rest rooms, lockers, librtry and read.
ing rooms and the officers Of the pFest
dent, heads of departments, etc. M
On the right hand of the main et1e
trance TO the building is located the
Offices of the president and his assist