Ferrell Hall - Campus Buildings and Artifacts, WVSU Archives & Special Collections

In 1921 the West Virginia Legislature appropriated $125,000 for a new administration building on the campus of West Virginia State College.

In a memo dated March 1, 1923, President John W. Davis wrote about the old Administration Building, "...This building contains seven classrooms. These constitute all rooms on the grounds built for classroom use... We are forced to use offices, bedrooms, basements, campus, Doctor's office, space for trades, etc. for classroom purposes. It is a matter of students taking chairs from place to place. It is clear that a building completed in 1892 for 14 students is inadequate in 1923 for 738 students."

The new administration building was constructed in 1925 and housed the Office of the President. On May 3, 1925, it was dedicated at Founders Day exercises. [A description of additional use is included six rows below from the 1930-1931 College Bulletin.]

A review of campus facilities by architectural consultants led to the recommendation in 1974 that the Administration Building be extensively renovated. A floor plan for renovated was submitted to, and approved by, the West Virginia Board of Regents. Additional alterations were made to the plans and approved by the Board to more adequately meet the needs of rapidly expanding programs. The building, as currently renovated, was occupied on May 1, 1980.

Ferrell Hall was named for Dr. Harrison H. Ferrell who began his career at West Virginia State College as an Acting Dean in 1930. He was Acting Registrar in 1934 and was named Dean of the College in 1937. Ferrell Hall was re-dedicated in 1980. It is also referred to as the: Administration Building and the "A" Building.

The P.A. Williams Auditorium is located in Ferrell Hall and serves the campus as the convocation and presentation center.

The 1930-1931 College Bulletin (catalog) describes the buildings then the resources:
The Laboratories "The science laboratories are located in the Administration Building [Ferrell Hall]. The laboratory for General Chemistry occupies the east wing of the third floor, while laboratories for Organic, Quantitative and Qualitative Chemistry are on the same floor facing the main campus. Storerooms, balance room, and lecture rooms adjoin the laboratories, which contain the most modern equipment.
The Physics laboratories occupy the west end of the third floor. there is a laboratory for advanced work and one for general work. The Kewaunee tables are supplied with gas, water and electricity. Dark rooms are equipped for work in light, optics and photography. A lecture room adjoins each laboratory.

The Biology laboratory occupies the east end of the second floor. It is well lighted and accomodates about eighty students. This laboratory is supplied with the usual laboratory apparatus including paraffin baths, drying oven, drawing apparatus, tables for dissection, aquarium, and microscopes.

The Mechanical Drawing and Surveying laboratory occupies rooms on the west end of the second floor, facing the main campus. The drafting room is fitted with adjustable drawing tables, drawing-boards, and lockers. An engineer's transit with chains, targets, etc., is at the disposal of the students in Surveying.

The Library The library of the institution occupies the entire northern wing, first floor of the Administrtion Building." (pictures Ferrell Hall 48 and 49)