The original Mechanical Hall - now Kearney Hall - was built in 1889 (in the photograph above, the back brick portion of the building was the original wing of Mechanical Hall). Built for over $5,800 of a $30,000 legislative appropriation, the first floor of the building featured a recitation room, machine shop, and blacksmith shop; the second floor was divided into a drafting room, a wood-working shop, and printing office.

In 1893, a wood-frame addition was added (in the photograph above, the addition is in the foreground); this addition housed the college's first gymnasium. By 1898, a dressmaking shop and millinery were also housed in Mechanical Hall.

In late September of 1898, the original Mechanical Hall was destroyed by fire; construction of a new Mechanical Hall began shortly thereafter in 1899, and was completed in 1900.

SCARC: SCARC's collections include personal papers, photographs, and university records documenting the history of the original Mechanical Hall.

Oregon Digital: Includes both photographic and textual materials documenting the history of the original Mechanical Hall.