Futures
of Reid Science Hall and Erskine Building Remain
Uncertain
by Scott Mitchell, Class of 1999
reprinted from the Mirror
Many questions have been raised since the
completion of the Daniel•Moultrie Science Center
as to the future of the Erskine Building and Reid
Science Hall.
To understand the importance of this issue, one
must understand the history of these two buildings.
The cornerstone of the “new” college,
the Erskine Building was laid in 1892 by Jennie
Grier, daughter of then president William Moffatt
Grier and future wife of Erskine president J.S.
Moffatt. The building replaced the original college
building which burned that year.
Constructed at a cost of $40,000, the building was
designed by Washington architect J.S. Denson. The
cost of the building was greatly increased when the
observatory was built too quickly and fell into the
auditorium.
The bricks for the Erskine Building were made at
the site of the present baseball field. The bricks in
the exterior veneer on the front were purchased and
shipped to Due West.
The building housed all aspects of the college
except for the literary societies. Included in the
building was an auditorium (supposedly the largest
auditorium in the upstate at the time), observatory,
chemistry lab, library, reading room, classrooms,
administration offices, YMCA hall, and a gymnasium.
The Erskine Building also housed the town clock
for Due West. Legend has it that the money for the
clock was raised through townspeople boycotting the
world's fair in St. Louis.
The world's fair opened on a Sunday with which the
ARPs of Due West disagreed. Instead of going to the
fair, townspeople gave what they would have spent on
the trip toward purchasing a clock for the college
building.
All classes on the men's campus were held in the
Erskine Building until 1949 when Reid Science Hall
was built.
Designed by Charles N. Robinson, the building
exemplifies a type of architecture popular on college
campuses during the late 1940s.
The present structure differs greatly from the
architect's original renderings. This is probably due
to a lack of funding at the time.
Ground was broken for it and McCain Library on
December 2, 1948.
At the time, Reid Science Hall was the only
building on campus named for a living person.
With the beginning of second semester, the third
floor of the Erskine Building, which had housed
classes for 106 years, fell silent, with the exception of
rooms being used by the education department.
The college intends to seal portions of the third
floor to reduce heating and cooling costs. According
to Vice President for Development Lee Logan, the
school is planning to have structural engineers and
architects look at the building and draw up plans for
renovation/restoration of the old college building.
Much attention will be focused on Lesesne
Auditorium to make it more suitable for fine arts
productions.
No money from tuition will be spent on the Erskine
Building. It is the school's policy to make
improvements or build new structures with outside
funds. A campaign should soon begin to raise funds
for the Erskine Building.
The future of Reid Science Hall poses more of an
interesting situation. No decision has been made at
this time. The college has contacted the development
boards of Abbeville and Anderson Counties to notify
them that the college has a building suitable for
industry.
If no interest is shown within six months, the
college will make a more definite decision about
Reid's fate.
Several departments have expressed interest in the
building. It is doubtful, however, that any
departments will be relocated there if enrollment
remains low.
For the college to “mothball” Reid
Science Hall (i.e., keep utilities and maintain a
stable climate in the building) will cost
approximately $1,000 per month.
Recently, rumors have abounded around campus that
Reid will be torn down. AT the rpesent time, the
college does not intend to tear down the building.
However, if a tenant is not found for the building
within a reasonable time, the possibility does exist
that Reid Science Hall will have a date with the
wrecking ball.
