University Hall (Brown University)

The University Hall at Brown University is the first and oldest building on campus located in Providence, Rhode Island.HistoryBuilt in 1770, it was originally known as the College Edifice. The building was constructed on a piece of land that had belonged to the original Brown family ancestor and co-founder of Providence, Chad Brown (c. 1600-1650).On February 17, 1770 the building committee in charge of the construction of the building placed a notice in the Providence Gazette asking for donations of timber and other materials. Prominent Newport merchant Aaron Lopez donated timber to the effort. On March 27, 1770, Solomon Drowne of Brown's class of 1773 wrote in his diary: “This day they began to dig the Cellar for the College.” Nicholas Brown, Sr. and Company led the construction of the building and his family donated the land. Morgan Edwards, described the location as “Commanding a prospect of... an extensive country, variegated with hills and dales, woods, and plains,” and was further inspired to write, “Surely, this spot was made for a seat for the Muses.”Under the presidency of the Reverend James Manning, the building was used to house French and other revolutionary troops led by General George Washington and the Comte de Rochambeau during the wait to commence the celebrated march of 1781 that led to the Siege of Yorktown and the Battle of the Chesapeake.