The original Ohio University Center, named after President Emeritus John Baker, opened in the fall of 1953.
"Students could now bowl, play billiards and Ping-Pong, steal a kiss in the 1954 Lounge, and rip out a tune on the piano in the 1804 Lounge," according to "Ohio University: The Spirit of a Singular Place." "They loved the sophistication of the ballroom, saw the cozy Cavern as a 'wonderful place to chat with a date,' and trooped to the Frontier Room between classes."
It might seem hard to imagine today, but the Baker Center Frontier Room served beer during the 1970s and 80s. It became the Front Room coffee shop in 1989 when a new drinking law banned beer sales at all campus events.
In 1965, the Center Program Board -- the CPB or "Bee" -- published a guide to Baker, with a schedule of events including "Freshmen Frolics," dance lessons, charm night, Christmas crafts and "Dad's Dance."
An application to serve on the Center Program Board of 1965-66 asked interested students to submit ideas for an "Amazon Jungle" theme party. The board -- led by its student president Stu Blersch that year -- was responsible for planning cultural, social and recreational events at Baker Center.
Students, faculty, alumni and friends received membership cards to Baker Center. In 1955, the University Club Dining Room had a dress code: Men wore coats and ties, while women wore "hose and dress shoes with suitable attire," according to the rules for the center published that year. Shorts were prohibited throughout the entire center, and women could not wear jeans in the building, except while in the game room.
In 1958-59, the first floor of Baker Center housed an information desk, private dining rooms, a faculty lounge and club room, and the 1804 and 1954 lounges. The third and fourth floors housed dormitories.
All items courtesy of University Archives.
Posted 05-09-07
