Most U of I folks know about Thomas Macbride (Macbride Hall) and Samuel Calvin (Calvin Hall), but there was a third person in what was called “The Great SUI Triumvirate”. Charles C. Nutting, served as professor of natural science and curator of the Natural History Museum from 1886 -1927, and many don’t realize that it was Professors Nutting, MacBride, and Calvin who stepped in to save their teaching home – Science Hall – also known as the Geology Building – from the wrecker’s ball in 1905. This beautiful, three-story, red-brick building was built on University Square – just north of Old Capitol – in 1884 for the purpose of housing the sciences. But to make room for President MacLean’s New University plan – which included a new Hall of Natural Science (today’s Macbride Hall) – the older Science Hall would have to go. But wait! In 1905, the SUI Triumvirate blew a whistle on MacLean’s plans – drawing up their own idea to actually move the older building rather than tear it down! So, during the summer of 1905 – inch by inch over a distance of 200 feet – Science Hall was moved to its present location on the corner of Capital and Jefferson Streets. Today, thanks to MacBride, Calvin & Nutting, Calvin Hall, as it is now known, still stands as the sole survivor from the 1895 SUI Red Brick Campus that once was.
CHECK OUT THE COMPLETE BLOG SERIES – Iowa City’s Top 50 Influencers – Part II
Back in 1979 – The Iowa City Press Citizen ran a special seven-page section called Chronology 1841/1979 and it featured Iowa City’s famed historian – Irving Weber – and his look at 25 People Who Left Their Stamp On Iowa City. So, here we are – forty-four years later – and now, I’m offering these two posts – dedicated to those who have greatly influenced our city over the first 100 years or so. This page features the First 25, and as you can see, each of the 25 names has a brief overview with a link(s) to read more, if you like. Enjoy!
Did you know? is an Our Iowa Heritage blog series that offers you a little bit of Iowa trivia from a large selection of stories on our website. Subscribe to this FREE blog and you’ll get a new email from us every Monday – Wednesday – Friday.
Join us for Our Iowa Heritage blog posts. Learn some historical facts about Iowa City, Johnson County, or Eastern Iowa. Amaze your friends. Click to learn more.