Step Back in Time at OSU



Step Back in Time at OSU by Dustie Butner Always thought Old Central was the first structure on the campus of Oklahoma State University? Think again. When Old Central's construction began in 1893, the wood-framed Experiment Station Barn already was standing as one of the first permanent structures on campus. Commonly referred to as the Horse Barn, its initial use was to house the teams of mules and horses being used to complete the remainder of campus construction. However, the Experiment Station Barn quickly turned into a multipurpose facility that served several functions. “Before some could envision a true campus, everyone wanted the Experiment Station to plant and experiment on anything they could with a variety of crops in this area,” said David Peters, coordinator of Special Collections and University Archives and co-author of the 27-volume OSU Centennial History Series. Oklahoma A&M College was created by legislation in 1890 as a land-grant institution. Four local homestead families donated land to start the university. The 200-acre tract of property was plowed using teams of horses, each turning a few acres of sod every day. The project took several months to complete. “As time goes on, it's hard to imagine that OSU started out on just 200 acres and was constructed with men and horses,” Peters said. The Experiment Station's first floor included a harness room, tool room and stalls for horse and mule teams. The cattle herd was boarded there, and a small lean-to shed served as a horticulture lab and greenhouse, which housed seeds from across the world for experimentation. In 1911, the final structure proposed for construction at the Experiment Station was a livestock judging pavilion. This was the first permanent on-campus facility for showing and judging livestock. Previously, this activity had taken place outdoors or in appropriate locations around campus. The judging room had a small arena and elevated benches that could seat 400. “I remember when the barns were still on campus, and we'd get the animals ready and just walk them down Farm Road to get them to the arena,” said Bob Kropp, animal science professor for 33 years. As campus progressed, the old livestock judging pavilion was no longer adequate to meet the growing needs of the animal husbandry department and the Agricultural Experiment Station. The college administration hoped to create a new agriculture center near campus to attract statewide meetings of farmers; hold livestock exhibitions and competitions; and provide additional office and classroom space for the animal husbandry department, judging classes and student organizations. “I think the most important thing about OSU through all the changes is that we are proud of our agriculture heritage and still embrace it through the development,” Peters said. In 1924, the Animal Husbandry Building and Livestock Pavilion, commonly referred to as the “livestock building,” was built to join two related functions into one building. The front section housed the animal husbandry department's offices, labs and classrooms. There were three full floors in this section, with the basement only partially below ground level. Each floor in the animal husbandry section had 4,200 square feet of usable space, giving the department a total of more than 12,000 square feet of additional room when the building was occupied. While attached to the animal husbandry building, the livestock pavilion was essentially a separate structure. This northern section of the new facility provided a 12,000-square-foot arena, space for livestock judging and holding pens for livestock. The arena had a dirt floor, and only the areas beneath the stands had concrete surfaces. The arena, with an estimated seating capacity of 2,000, held judging events, livestock shows and rodeos. It served as a popular hangout among students. “The animal husbandry building and arena had a lot of significance to numerous generations of OSU students,” Peters said. “It went through some surface changes, but the attitude surrounding the building always remained. It was the place students went to see and be seen.” With new opportunities from the development of the Animal Husbandry Building and Arena, student organizations were able to thrive. Events such as Block and Bridle's annual Little International were designed to help pay traveling expenses of the livestock judging team. The event consisted of a display of the college's herds, a rodeo, a horse show, a style show and rope spinning. It quickly turned into one of the most popular events on campus. Festivities like Aggie Day and Ag Week were organized to get students involved in activities to promote agriculture. Ag Week is still an annual activity sponsored by the Agricultural Student Council. The Animal Husbandry Building was used for 78 years to conduct classes and held special events. Students used the arena to relax for lunch and socialize with friends on breaks. The Animal Husbandry Building and Arena were demolished in 1989 to make room for construction of the Noble Research Center. “Right before the demolition of Animal Husbandry, a lot of alumni would come back, and on any given day, the arena would have people in it just kicking around the dirt one last time,” Kropp said. “There were a lot of memories in the arena, and a lot of people were sad to see it go.” Through the evolvement of campus, OSU always has been fortunate to have administrators, architects and business management professionals who dare to dream. “Everyone remembers 'their' campus differently depending on what time frame they were here,” Kropp said. “There was always a new study location, social hangout or building depending on the generation.” No matter how you remember your time at Oklahoma A&M or Oklahoma State University, the campus has withstood the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, weather, fires, renovations and construction to evolve into the distinguished campus it always will be — no matter what generation you are. For more information, visit the OSU Special Collections and University Archives or call (405) 744-6311.