Welcome back to our series exploring the University of Wyoming’s building history. In these posts, we’re digging into the narratives behind UW’s most iconic structures.

When UW opened for classes on September 12, 1887, no campus housing was available. Students secured room and board with local residents.

For more than a decade, the trustees attempted to secure funding for campus housing. Finally, in the fall of 1906, plans for a new women’s dormitory began to take shape.

University President Frederick Tisdel met with members of the Wyoming State Federation of Women’s Clubs on October 13 to discuss the Federation’s support for the completion of a dormitory that could accommodate up to 25 students. State funds along with financial support from the Federation allowed the project to move forward.

On June 5, 1905, Cheyenne architect, William Dubois, presented a building proposal to the trustees. Plans were approved in December to construct a slightly smaller dormitory to fit within the budget, with an additional wing to be added later. The building contract was awarded to C.R. Inman, of Cheyenne, on February 8, 1908, to construct a red brick dormitory.

Women’s Hall, as it was originally known, was not completed when students arrived for school on September 22. Temporary housing arrangements were made until the new dormitory opened on October 15. The first dorm’s director was Minna Stoner, who also was appointed as the UW’s first Dean of Women.

The planned additional wing was completed in the fall of 1909. The dorm included a section for the Home Economics Division, including a kitchen and dining hall and large classroom, which also was used for art and sewing classes.

The trustees approved the change of the building’s name from Women’s Hall to Merica Hall at its August 7, 1922, meeting. The name was an ode to Charles Merica, UW’s President from 1908 to 1912. Perhaps it was a reward for his past frustrations. Although an ambitious builder, Merica’s plans for other structures were consistently thwarted by the Wyoming Legislature.

In 1925, an initiative was launched to transform a large classroom into a formal gathering space. By the fall of 1926, the conversion was complete, and the room was dedicated in tribute to Nellie Tayloe Ross, who had the distinction of being both Wyoming’s governor and the first woman elected as a governor in the U.S. The dedication ceremony took place on May 11, 1927, with Ross, by then the former governor, in attendance. This venue quickly became a popular location for parties and festive events.

Near to Merica Hall to the northwest, there was a small pond affectionately known as the “Peanut Pond” by the campus community across generations. It served as the battleground for the annual tug-of-war between freshmen and sophomores, a cherished tradition. According to the Branding Iron student newspaper, it also played host to fly casting contests that continued into the late 1940s. Soon after, the pond was drained, probably due to the mosquito problem it was said to have created.

When additional housing was added, Merica Hall was slowly converted for academic and office purposes. The School of Pharmacy occupied the basement in 1948. As the College of Pharmacy expanded to occupy most of the building, the trustees, on January 14, 1955, approved the name change to Merica Pharmacy Building. After a new Pharmacy Building opened in 1969, Merica Hall began housing numerous academic offices and campus services.

 

As we continue our journey through the architectural past of the University of Wyoming, our next stop describes the fascinating story behind Hoyt Hall.

In the meantime, explore the AHC’s virtual exhibition titled “Keeping History Alive: 136 Years of Progress.” This display intertwines historical images of the UW campus with contemporary photographs from 2022, revealing the evolution as well as enduring elements of the campus over time.