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Edwards Gymnasium and Pfeiffer Natatorium

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The Edwards Gymnasium and Pfeiffer Natatorium is a building on the main campus of Ohio Wesleyan University. Inaugurated in 1906, it was designed by architect J.W. Yost and was built by Feick & Son.[1][2] Edwards Hall is a 1,800-seat multi-purpose arena. Located at the south end of the campus in Delaware, Ohio, it was home to the OWU Battling Bishops men's and women's swimming and women's handball teams.

Edwards Gymnasium and
Pfeiffer Natatorium
Exterior view of the building in 2021
LocationOWU Main Campus, S. Sandusky St., Delaware, Ohio
Coordinates40°17′41″N 83°4′3″W / 40.29472°N 83.06750°W / 40.29472; -83.06750
Arealess than one acre
Built1905-06
Built byFeick & Son
ArchitectYost, J.W.
MPSOhio Wesleyan University TR
NRHP reference No.85000632[1]
Added to NRHPMarch 18, 1985
Edwards Gymnasium
Edwards Gym
Map
AddressUnited States
OwnerOhio Wesleyan University
TypeSports venue
Capacity1,800
SurfaceRecaflex track surface
Construction
Opened1906; 118 years ago (1906)
Renovated2012, 2015
ArchitectJ.W. Yost
BuilderFeick & Son.[1][2]
Tenants
Website
owu.edu/edwards-gymnasium

Overview

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It has a stone entry portico and a "dominant" red tile roof with dormers. The gymnasium is named for alumnus John Edwards of Leipsic, Ohio, who served on the board of trustees of the university and was a major benefactor to the university.[2]

In 1985, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places along with the natatorium named for benefactor Annie Merner Pfeiffer.[1][3]

The Pfeiffer Natatorium was the competition pool for OWU from 1954 to 2010.[4]

Basketball and volleyball competition, and other indoor sports, were moved to the 2,300 seat Branch Rickey Arena, built adjacent to Edwards Gymnasium, upon its completion in 1976.[5]

The Edwards Gymnasium was then renovated to accommodate the Pfeiffer Natatorium, named for donor Annie Merner Pfeiffer.[6]

It is 150 by 83 feet (46 m × 25 m) in plan. Built mainly of light-colored brick, it has a hipped red clay-tiled roof with dormers at both ends and sides.[3]

The entrance has carved stone pillars.[3][note 1]

The complex was listed on the National Register as part of a 1984 study of historic resources on the OWU campus.[7]

All the OWU sites listed together on the National Register in 1985 are:

  • Austin Hall, W. Central Ave. and Elizabeth St.
  • Edwards Gymnasium and Pfieffer Natatorium, Main Campus, S. Sandusky St.
  • Ohio Wesleyan University Student Observatory, W. William St.
  • Sanborn Hall, W. Campus
  • Selby Field, Henry St.
  • Slocum Hall, Main Campus, Sandusky St.
  • Stuyvesant Hall, W. William St., and
  • University Hall-Gray's Chapel, W. William St.[1][8][9][10][6]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ The National Park Service and NARA have misspelled "Pfeiffer" as "Pfieffer", as here.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ a b c Lorrie K. Owen, ed. (1999). Ohio Historic Places Dictionary, Volume 2. Somerset Publishers, Inc. p. 318. ISBN 9781878592705.
  3. ^ a b c G.R. Cryder (1985). Ohio Historic Inventory: Edwards Gymnasium and Pfeiffer Natatorium.
  4. ^ "Pfeiffer Natatorium". Ohio Wesleyan University. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  5. ^ owu page on Branch Rickey Arena
  6. ^ a b John B. Ciochetty (2010). Ghosts of Historic Delaware, Ohio. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9781614235286. Includes historic postcard inage of the gym....
  7. ^ Judith B. Williams (May 21, 1984). National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Ohio Wesleyan University Thematic Group.
  8. ^ "amp library?".
  9. ^ "battling".
  10. ^ "facilities".
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