Auburn University Chapel

Last updated

Auburn Players Theater
Auburn University Chapel.JPG
Auburn University Chapel in 2011
USA Alabama location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
LocationCollege St. at Thach Ave., Auburn, Alabama
Coordinates 32°36′16″N85°28′53″W / 32.60444°N 85.48139°W / 32.60444; -85.48139
Built1851
ArchitectEdwin Reese
Architectural styleGothic Revival
NRHP reference No. 73000351 [1]
Added to NRHPMay 22, 1973
The Auburn University Chapel in Auburn, Alabama as it appeared in 1982 Auburn University Chapel 1982.jpg
The Auburn University Chapel in Auburn, Alabama as it appeared in 1982

The Auburn University Chapel is the second-oldest building and oldest building in its original location on the campus of Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama.

Contents

History

The chapel was built in 1851 as a Presbyterian church, using slave labor, in the Greek Revival style. During the Civil War, the building briefly served as a Confederate hospital for wounded soldiers, and later in the century was temporarily divided into classrooms when the main building of the nearby Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical College burned in 1887. [2]

Around 1900, the church was renovated in a Gothic style. The building was sold to the college in 1921, where it became the YMCA/YWCA center for a few years. From 1927 to 1973, it housed the Auburn Players Theater, the college's acting troupe. [3] Between 1973 and 1976, the structure underwent a significant renovation for conversion to the Auburn University Chapel, an interdenominational, multipurpose building, a function it still serves today. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places as Auburn Players Theater on May 22, 1973. [1] The Auburn University Chapel is believed to be the oldest public establishment in Auburn. It often held weddings and dinners on the lawn. Between 1850 and 1976, the Auburn University Chapel has transitioned from church, to hospital, to classroom, to theatre, and then finally back to a church. [4]

The Auburn University Chapel is believed to be haunted. While treating war soldiers, death was inevitable. One death that particularly stands out is the death of Sydney Grimlett. Grimlett was fighting in the Civil War when he suffered an injury and had a procedure to amputate his leg; he did not survive this procedure. The Troupe Theatre group took over in the 1920's, soon audience members began noticing orbs near actors, during state productions. Performers in the group soon noticed objects and props missing from the set. However, Grimlett gained a reputation as a kind ghost and obeys when given candy as an incentive. When the Troupe Theatre group moved they invited Sydney Grimlett to come with and has resided wherever the Troupe may travel.

[]==References==

  1. 1 2 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  2. "Auburn University Chapel is the oldest building in its original location on the campus of Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama". Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  3. Floyd, W. Warner (March 19, 1973). "Auburn Players Theater". National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form. National Park Service. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 12, 2014. Retrieved March 11, 2014.See also: "Accompanying photos". Archived (PDF) from the original on March 12, 2014. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
  4. Belk, Mary (September 12, 2012). "Auburn University Chapel has stories to tell Column" . Opelika-Auburn News (AL). Retrieved September 20, 2023.

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/alabama/sydney-grimlett-haunted-auburn-chapel-al/

Further reading

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Auburn, Alabama</span> City in Alabama, United States

Auburn is a city in Lee County, Alabama, United States. It is the largest city in eastern Alabama. The population was 76,143 at the 2020 census. It is a principal city of the Auburn-Opelika Metropolitan Area. The Auburn-Opelika, AL MSA with a population of 193,773, along with the Columbus, GA-AL MSA and Tuskegee, Alabama, comprises the greater Columbus-Auburn-Opelika, GA-AL CSA, a region home to 503,124 residents.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Centenary University</span> University in Hackettstown, New Jersey

Centenary University is a private university in Hackettstown, New Jersey. Founded as a preparatory school by the Newark Conference of the United Methodist Church in 1867, Centenary evolved into a Junior College for women and later a coeducational four year University offering undergraduate and Master's level graduate programs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harvard Yard</span> Oldest part of the Harvard University campus

Harvard Yard, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is the oldest part of the Harvard University campus, its historic center and modern crossroads. It contains most of the freshman dormitories, Harvard's most important libraries, Memorial Church, several classroom and departmental buildings, and the offices of senior University officials including the President of Harvard University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Auburn University</span> Public university in Auburn, Alabama, United States

Auburn University is a public land-grant research university in Auburn, Alabama, US. With more than 26,800 undergraduate students, over 6,100 post-graduate students, and a total enrollment of more than 33,000 students with 1,330 faculty members, Auburn is the second-largest university in Alabama. It is one of the state's two flagship public universities. The university is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very High Research Activity".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freed–Hardeman University</span> Private university in Henderson, Tennessee, U.S.

Freed–Hardeman University is a private university associated with the Churches of Christ and located in Henderson, Tennessee, USA. It is primarily undergraduate and residential, enrolling full-time students of traditional college age. The university also serves some commuting, part-time and adult students on-campus and through distance-learning programs. The university offers a limited number of masters' and doctoral-level graduate programs including Bible, business, counseling and education. Arts, science and professional degrees are conferred.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muskingum University</span> Private college in New Concord, Ohio, U.S.

Muskingum University is a private university in New Concord, Ohio. Chartered in 1837 as Muskingum College, the institution is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). New Concord is located in far eastern Muskingum County, which derives its name from the Muskingum River. Muskingum offers more than 40 academic majors. Graduate programs are offered in education and management information systems, strategy and technology. Muskingum's campus consists of 21 buildings, a football stadium, and a small lake which all sit atop 225 acres (0.91 km2) of rolling hills overlooking New Concord. Alumni are referred to as the "Long Magenta Line" and students are known simply as "Muskies" while its athletic teams are called the "Fighting Muskies".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gustavus Adolphus College</span> Private liberal arts college in St. Peter, Minnesota, United States

Gustavus Adolphus College is a private liberal arts college in St. Peter, Minnesota. It was founded in 1862 by Swedish Americans led by Eric Norelius and is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Gustavus gets its name from Gustavus Adolphus, the King of Sweden from 1611 to 1632. Its residential campus includes a 125-acre arboretum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elmhurst University</span> Private liberal arts college in Elmhurst, Illinois, US

Elmhurst University is a private university in Elmhurst, Illinois. It has a tradition of service-oriented learning and an affiliation with the United Church of Christ. The university changed its name from Elmhurst College on July 1, 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Randolph–Macon College</span> Private liberal arts college in Ashland, Virginia, U.S.

Randolph–Macon College is a private liberal arts college in Ashland, Virginia. Founded in 1830, the college has an enrollment of more than 1,500 students. It is the second-oldest Methodist-run college in the country, and the oldest in continuous operation. The college primarily offers bachelor's degrees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Birmingham–Southern College</span> Private Methodist university in Birmingham, Alabama

Birmingham–Southern College (BSC) is a private liberal arts college in Birmingham, Alabama. Founded in 1856, the college is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). More than 1300 students from 33 states and 16 foreign countries attend the college.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Auraria Campus</span> Academic campus in Denver, Colorado, home to three higher education institutions

Auraria Campus is an educational facility located near downtown Denver, Colorado in the United States. The campus houses facilities of three separate universities and colleges: the University of Colorado Denver, Community College of Denver (CCD), and Metropolitan State University of Denver. In 2017, there were approximately 54,812 students between the three schools, with rapid growth projected over the following few years. However, due to Covid and declining enrollment, the collective student population in 2022 was approximately 38,000, with an additional 5,000 faculty and staff.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pebble Hill</span> Historic house in Alabama, United States

Pebble Hill, also known as the Scott-Yarbrough House, is an antebellum cottage in Auburn, Alabama listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The property has undergone multiple ownerships over the decades. Pebble Hill currently serves as the location of the Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts & Humanities in the College of Liberal Arts at Auburn University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Irvington Historic District (Indianapolis)</span> Historic district in Indiana, United States

The neighborhood of Irvington, named after Washington Irving, includes Irvington Historic District, a historic district in Indianapolis, Indiana. The historic district is a 545-acre (221 ha) area that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. That year, the district included 2,373 contributing buildings, 5 other contributing structures, and 2 contributing sites.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samford Hall</span> Building on the Auburn University campus

William J. Samford Hall is a structure on the campus of Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama. It is an icon of Auburn University and houses the school's administration. The building is named for William J. Samford, the Governor of Alabama from 1900 to 1901.

Sydney Adventist College is an independent Seventh-Day Adventist co-educational early learning and primary day school, located in Auburn, an inner-western suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doane College Historic Buildings</span> United States historic place

The Doane College Historic Buildings are located on the Doane University campus at 1014 Boswell Avenue in Crete, Nebraska, United States. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a historic district, there are three buildings included: Gaylord Hall, Whitcomb Conservatory/Lee Memorial Chapel, and Boswell Observatory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Langdon Hall</span> Building on the Auburn University campus

Langdon Hall is a building on the campus of Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama, United States. Built in the Greek Revival style in 1846 as the chapel for the Auburn Female College and moved to the Auburn University campus in 1883, Langdon Hall is the oldest building in the city of Auburn, and today houses an auditorium and office space for Auburn University staff. Before the Civil War, Langdon Hall served as the location for a series of debates on the question of Southern secession, involving William Lowndes Yancey, Alexander Stephens, Benjamin Harvey Hill, and Robert Toombs. Langdon Hall is named for Charles Carter Langdon, a former mayor of Mobile, Alabama, Alabama Secretary of State, and a trustee of Auburn University from 1872–1889.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Washington Hall (University of Notre Dame)</span> United States historic place

Washington Hall at the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Indiana is the seventh oldest university owned building on the historic campus. It is part of the University of Notre Dame: Main and North Quadrangles historic district, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and was the original home of the university's music and performing arts programs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peabody Hall (Miami University)</span> United States historic place

Peabody Hall is a mixed-use academic and residential building located on the campus of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. The original building, known as Seminary Hall, was built in 1855, and was the central building of Western College for Women. That building burned down in 1860 and was rebuilt the following year, only to become damaged by an 1871 fire. Rebuilt again that same year, the building was renamed Peabody Hall, after Helen Peabody the first head of Western College, in 1905. Peabody Hall is one of two residential buildings on Miami's Western Campus still used for their original purposes. It is one of 15 contributing buildings to the Western Female Seminary National Historic District.