East Central University history

Then: The legislative session of 1919 approved funds for the second classroom building at ECU. Originally called the Education Building, its name was later changed to honor famous educator Horace Mann.

In 1925 Horace Mann became an accredited four-year high school in addition to the junior high and elementary divisions of the school.

Then: Completed in 1926 at a cost of $130,000 the Administration Building housed the library, all administrative offices and the departments of English and history.

Nine presidents have served the institution since its founding in 1928.

In 1930 grandstands were built to seat about 1,600 people.

Then: One of two residence halls built in 1937 by architect Albert Ross through a request to the Public Works Administration from President Linscheid, Knight Hall was built to house 178 women.

Expanding beyond education degrees, in 1939 the school became East Central State College.

Then: Built in 1949 as the Linscheid Library.

In 1953 the new Horace Mann building was completed and the original Horace Mann was used by the departments of art and music for a few years.

In 1954, the six colleges were authorized to offer their first graduate work in a fifth-year program for teachers.

In 1956 a three-story addition was added to Fentem Hall to house 60 more men.

Then: Built to house the departments of education, psychology and industrial arts was completed in 1957.

Then: Built in 1964, this Y-shaped structure is four-stories and can house up to 420 students.

East Central Junior College was established on April 2, 1968.

The College held its first classes in September, 1969, in temporary facilities at Memorial Auditorium and other rented locations in Union.

The first classes at the permanent campus were held January 24, 1972, in the Administration Building.

In 1974 the Health and Education Building was renovated and renamed the Mickey McBride Health Building in honor of ECU legendary basketball coach Mickey McBride.

In 1977 Knight Hall was remodeled and the former student lounge was named the James Thomas Regents Room.

Now: In 1988 Fentem Hall received a $500,000 face lift including the creation of a day care center and expanded office space for ECU's Center of Continuing Education and Community Services, both of which are still housed at Fentem Hall.

Then: Begun in May 1989, at the price of $4.189 million, this new building emphasized energy efficiency while locating all of its 27 laboratories at the center for the two-story building.

On March 21, 1991, before construction was complete, a tornado took out the north wall of the building causing $55,000 in damages.

An additional 92 acres were purchased in 1994 to accommodate expansion and growth.

The Linscheid Library is still used in the same capacity as when it was built in 1997.

Ada, Oklahoma, Queen City of the Chickasaw Nation. (Donning Co., 1998).

2, 1999, the former home was rededicated as the Sterling L. Williams Foundation and Alumni Center.

Now: The building was gutted, renovated and re-opened in 2003 as the James O. Danley Center for Administration and Instruction - or more commonly known as Danley Hall.

The building was formally dedicated October 30, 2011 in honor of the late George H. Buescher.

The current Hansen Hall, named after founding board of trustees member, Robert Hansen, was named in his honor September 2014.