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The Historic Buildings of Lincoln University
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The Lincoln University Heritage Initiative (LUHI) was formed in June 2013 by concerned Lincoln University alumni following the University’s announcement of plans to demolish Azikiwe-Nkrumah Hall, the oldest building on campus, to make way for a new Welcome Center. Just months later, the University’s October 2013 Master Campus Plan identified additional historic structures—including Houston Hall, McCrary Hall, Bond House, Ashmun Hall, and Frederick Douglass Hall—for possible demolition. Alarmed by the potential loss of these irreplaceable landmarks, LUHI began researching the buildings' legal and historical status and contacted the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC). LUHI learned that 15 campus buildings had already been determined eligible for the National Register of Historic Places nearly 25 years earlier and, despite varying levels of deterioration, could not be demolished without approval from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Continued...
History of Each Building
Azikiwe-Nkrumah Hall, built in 1865, is the oldest building on the campus. It was built during the Civil War when the university was originally known as Ashmun Institute. Initially a residence for professors, the building later became the African Center and is currently used as campus security offices. It is named for two distinguished alumni, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe '30, the first president of Nigeria and Dr. Kwame Nkrumah '39, the first president of Ghana.
Houston Hall, built as a Seminary in 1881, is named for its benefactor, Henry Howard Houston, a prominent Philadelphia businessman and philanthropist. The Seminary was the first Presbyterian Seminary in the United States to become completely integrated. After the Seminary was closed in 1959, the building was converted to a men's dormitory and received a new heating system, renovated bathrooms and a replaced roof. The building is currently vacant.
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Bond House, built in 1891, is named for Dr. Horace Mann Bond, '23, the first African-American and alumni president of the university. Dr. Bond, a leading sociologist who provided research for the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case, is also the father of Julian Bond, noted civil rights leader. Originally a residence for professors, the home was converted to a dormitory for women in 1971. The house has been vacant for several years.
Cresson Hall, built in 1870, with funds secured from the Freedman's Bureau through the efforts of General O. O. Howard, then a trustee of the university, is the second oldest building on the campus. It is named for Sara Emlen Cresson, the wife of the founder of Lincoln University, Rev. Dr. John Miller Dickey. The entire building was used as a residence hall until 1965 when a Health Center was added. Cresson Hall became the first residence for women students in 1969. The building is currently vacant.
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