Chambers Hall

 (1929 - present)

Chambers Hall is shown shortly after its construction in this photo, courtesy of the Prickly Pear

Chambers Hall was named in honor of Julia Chambers for a gift of $10,000 in vendor lien notes given by her and her husband, E. D. Chambers, of Afton, Texas. E.D. Chambers served on the Board of Trustees from 1929 to 1945 and as a vice-president of the board for a period of time.

Design and Construction

The architect for this building was Nichol & Campbell.  The contract for construction was awarded on April 29, 1929 to Balfanz Construction Co. of Abilene.  The cost of the building was $48,599.

Of the original buildings, Chambers Hall has had the most exterior changes.  In the 1940s, two one-story additions were made to the northeast and southeast corners next to the kitchen and separate entrances to the basement were added on the north and south sides.

During the 1972 remodeling of the building, the center stairs and the entrance to the first floor were removed.  A brick wall was put up over the entrance doors and the window above them.  The original double-hung white wood framed windows were also replaced.

The kitchen, dining hall, hallway and bathroom floors were originally concrete, and the residence hall rooms had wood floors.  The interior woodwork was stained in walnut including the doors, wall base and shoe, chair rail and picture molding.  The walls and ceiling were plastered and painted in a light creme and light brown.  The furnishings were walnut or brown in color.

The light housekeeping rooms were furnished with one double bed (one room had two double beds), a dresser, a table, two chairs, a small stove and a lavatory sink.

Floor Plans

This building originally housed:

• Basement (now the First Floor) – Left unfinished with a dirt floor
   
• First Floor (now the Second Floor)
• Dining Hall
• Kitchen
   
• Second Floor (now the Third Floor)
• 17 Rooms
• Director's Room
• Parlor
• Storage Room
• Bathroom

Students lined up for the dining hall, circa 1930. Photo courtesy of the Prickly Pear

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Sarah Burney works in the kitchen, circa 1930. Photo courtesy of the Prickly Pear.

The Bean bell is shown in this photo circa 1931, courtesy of the Prickly Pear.

Students gather for meal time in the dining hall, circa early 1930s. Photo courtesy of ACU Creative Services.

Alumni and students gather outside for a Homecoming barbecue in October 1933. Photo courtesy of the Prickly Pear.

The Hardin Appreciation Banquet in February 1934 took place in Chambers. Photo courtesy of the Prickly Pear.

A new entrance down to the dining hall is shown circa 1937. Photo courtesy of the Prickly Pear.

The library was located on the first floor beginning in 1936. Photo courtesy of ACU Creative Services.

Basement floor plan

First Floor plan

Second Floor plan

 
These floor plans are in Adobe Acrobat PDF format, to view them, you must have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer.  These floor plans were created using photographs and physical examination of the building. The original architectural drawings do not exist.  If you can help improve them, visit the How You Can Help page.

1936

The completion of the basement began in February.  A floor was poured and an entrance to the basement was created under the center stairs to the first floor.  The basement windows were lengthened by cutting into the foundation.

During the summer the kitchen and dining hall moved to the basement.  The library then moved from the second floor of the Administration Building to the first floor of Chambers Hall.  The cost to finish the basement was $6,146.80.