1972-1977

Jackson H~ll has 50 years of history at EC The ren~v·~tion of th.e last wing of Jacks~n Hall~ land- mark women's dormitory at East Central Junior College, is near completion. Perry Construction Company of Philadelphia, the original builder in 1928 and the builder of this ·wing in 1937, is also the current contractor. According to Dr. Charles Wright, Sr., President of the college, four other contrac– tors have added to or reno– vated the building during its fifty years of service. The present project.at the cost of ' . approximately $200,000, will complete the modernization of the entire building. The major renovation was begun in 1963 and continued in 1966, 1968, and 1974. Jackson Hall, under the ___________________:_____ _J capable supervision of Mrs. Desma Kilpatrick, is ready to begin the second SO years. It has been the college home of over 4000 young ladies from three generations. When asked about the strength of ----~~~------------~~~~~~~---~~ the stru~e, . the Jlresent . architect, Charles McMullan of McMullan and Associates, stated: ''H :you have a . -.~PU$"' . We. . don't build windstorm, Jackson Hall them with 16 inch solid brick should be the safest place on walls anymore."

When the 138 young ladies arrive on August 28 to occupy this facility, some may elect to share a room used by their mothers or grandmothers. Only the loca– tion will be the same. New carpet, new ceilings, new windows, new build-in furni– ture, modem hearing, light– ing, and air conditioning and an outside facelift have been added. Even the room num– bers have been changed to conform to a new lock and keying system. Jackson Hall has served well for the first fifty years of the college. In earlier years it housed the kitchen and cafe– teria for the college and agriculture high school. The first college classes were taught on the ground floor level in the fall of 1928 by Mrs. Stella Newsome and Mr. Robert Marshall. These Temporary classrooms were set up adjoining the "dining hall" where all students were served meals family style around long tables. The food was prepared from beef, pork, milk, fruit, and vege– tables most of which were produced, processed and prepared by the college personnel with the assistance of students. Virtually all students worked to help defray costs of room and board. Though this building is named in honor of Mrs. J .L, Jackson , Dean of Women for ,;. i years, others associated with it will be fondly remem– bered by former occupants.

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