Jefferson Hall

The second campus structure to be named Jefferson Hall was a large, wooden pavilion, the sides of which were boxed in by numerous windows. It was constructed in 1922 at the south end of Wait Field (where Walters Life Sciences Building now stands) as an open air pavilion and was converted in early 1923 into a basketball and activities facility. Its cost was $9,095.01. The structure was designed by the Engineering Department, which also supervised the construction. The hardwood basketball court was furnished and installed by Kirkpatrick and Robinson. It had a regulation basketball court and two smaller courts for use by fraternity and military company teams. It was heated by six enormous stoves, four at the corners of the basketball court and two in the center next to the outer walls of the lower roofs. The collapsible bleachers from Shields-Watkins Field were used for spectators at basketball games, providing seating for fifteen hundred.

The UT Carnival, commencement programs, basketball games, football practice on inclement days, dances, and other recreational activities were held there. The seats in this building were cane-bottomed chairs held in place by long boards. Henry Daniels was the first custodian to have charge of Jefferson Hall and stayed there day and night. He had a small room in back of the stage where he slept.

Jefferson Hall continued to be used for basketball games after the gymnasium building was built in 1924. With the completion of Alumni Memorial Building, the university leased Jefferson Hall to the State of Tennessee for use as a National Guard armory in 1932–33. When the structure burned on December 20, 1934, the wooden construction and the ammunition stored therein made for a fire of spectacular proportion. Lost in the fire by the National Guard were 250 uniforms for enlisted men and 16 officers’ uniforms; 16 motorcycles; 100 rifles, 200 pistols, 8 machine guns, and 30,000 rounds of ammunition; a well-equipped repair shop for the motorcycle company; medical supplies and equipment for the medical company; various other equipment; and records. The tennis court area was expanded after the fire, and tennis courts and parking occupied the site until the construction of the Walters Life Sciences Building.

Citation Information

The following information is provided for citations.

  • Title Jefferson Hall
  • Author
  • Keywords Jefferson Hall
  • Website Name Volopedia
  • Publisher University of Tennessee Libraries
  • URL
  • Access Date March 29, 2024
  • Original Published Date
  • Date of Last Update October 8, 2018