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By Cutler Hall
Dear U.S. Postal Service,
Thank you for including me in your Historic Preservation Postcard Series, joining other of America’s historic buildings, including those on many of her college campuses.
I’m just a few years younger, than Ohio University, who is celebrating 200 years. See I wasn’t finished until 1819 thanks to a bolt of lightning that set me ablaze. In 1820 a bell was added to my tower and the University’s students earned a few dollars to ring it to mark class changes. Today, if you are on the College Green at noon, you can hear the chimes play “Alma Mater, Ohio.”
But did you know that I am the oldest building erected for higher education west of the Alleghenies, north of the Ohio River? Over the years, I’ve had a few names. I’ve been the College Edifice as well as the Center Building.
It is fitting, however, that Cutler Hall finally became my name. Manasseh Cutler was a true believer in the value of education. He appreciated the values and pleasure of learning, pursuing a variety of careers including teacher, clergyman, lawyer, physician and botanist. A founder of the University, he wanted to name this great educational hallmark of the Northwest Territory the American Western University. Ohio’s legislators thought Ohio University was more fitting. Today, the University’s administration calls me home, but I’ve been a dormitory, classroom building, laboratory, library and museum.
And now I’m a post card.
So thank you for helping the University mark its 200-year legacy with my picture on a very special postcard.
Yours,
Cutler Hall
